Britain ends combat operations in Iraq
British troops will withdraw from Iraq in the coming days
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Thursday, 30, Apr 2009 05:57
British troops have formally ended combat operations in Iraq today.
Forces in Basra handed over control to the US military, marking what prime minister Gordon Brown described as the "closing chapter" in combat activities.
Earlier, defence secretary John Hutton attended a memorial service held for the 179 British military personnel killed since the 2003 invasion.
The 3,700 personnel currently stationed in Iraq are expected to pullout in the coming days, some six years after the US-led invasion.
The official withdrawal began last month when the UK's commander in the south of Iraq, Major General Andy Salmon, handed over control to the US military.
Around 400 British troops are expected to remain behind to train up Iraqi forces.
Speaking during a press conference with the Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki this morning, Mr Brown said Britain could be "proud of the legacy" it was leaving in Iraq after six years.
He said Britain owned its servicemen a huge debt, describing Iraq as a "success story".
Both the UK and the United States have recently turned their attention towards Afghanistan, with both Gordon Brown and Barack Obama unveiling new strategies involving a fresh focus on the battle against the Taliban and al Qaida including tackling the ongoing situation in Pakistan.
While the security situation in Iraq has improved greatly in recent years, violent attacks still occur in some regions.
A series of suicide attacks in and around Baghdad in recent weeks have left over 100 people dead.