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All British troops to end their mission in Iraq by next summer
Joe Murphy, Political Editor10 Dec 2008
BRITISH troops will be out of Iraq by the summer, Ministry of Defence sources have signalled.
A draft timetable will see modest withdrawals in March, building up to a full-scale return of 4,000 service personnel by the end of June.
Gordon Brown is expected to confirm the plans in the New Year, providing the security situation remains calm.
The move will free up Merlin helicopters and crews who will be transferred to Afghanistan to bolster the fight against the Taliban.
But military chiefs are resisting US pressure to redeploy all the personnel to Afghanistan, saying the Army needs a break after engaging in two major foreign conflicts for the past six years.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman confirmed that major announcements were on the way. "Significant progress has been made in Basra, a city which has now been transformed thanks to Iraqi, Coalition and British efforts," she said. "As such, we are now expecting to see a fundamental change of mission in early 2009."
In the short term, American forces will take over responsibility for the south of Iraq, including command of Basra airbase to where most of the British troops have been confined on emergency stand-by in recent months. But president-elect Barack Obama has promised to bring American troops home as soon as possible, saying in speeches that the fledgling Iraqi government and army must "step up to the plate" and manage its own security in future.
Military sources say the timetable will have to change if the security situation deteriorates. The Prime Minister had hoped to begin withdrawals over a year ago but bowed to American pressure to stay on for longer.
Around 300 troops will remain at the request of the Iraqis to help set up colleges for officer cadets and senior staff officers and to train the Iraqi navy.
A total of 177 British service personnel have lost their lives there since the invasion in March 2003.
Reader views (6)
So thats it ? Mission accomplished. Iraq is now a free and wonderful model of democracy in the Mid-East. A million dead (from all sides and religions) How easy success comes from all the politicians who now can walk away, because they wont be relected next time round, such as Bush and Blair, and are not now accountable. But History will I think have the final word.
- Colin Bond, London, 10/12/2008 20:50
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Great news. Well done Gordon Brown. You kept your promise
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 10/12/2008 17:22
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Please, bring them home and keep them here. It is time to stop this senseless unwanted waste of life. Without doubt it has been a major factor in the current "Credit Crunch"and hardship felt worldwide. History will never forgive this blunder or the endless hurt it has caused.
- E. Nuff, london, 10/12/2008 15:33
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In time for a General Election!
- William, London, 10/12/2008 13:47
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Believe it when it happens, otherwise it's just more government spin. One wonders what bad news are they trying to bury today?
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark, 10/12/2008 12:29
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Let's get them home and welcome them back as heros.
- Rayb, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, 10/12/2008 11:04
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