Australian troops return home after end of Iraq combat duties
Australian PM Kevin Rudd pledged to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq
Also In The News
|
England legend Lawrence Dallaglio paid tribute to his team-mates after they lifted the Guinness Premiership crown by beating Leicester tigers. |  |
Sunday, 01, Jun 2008 02:18
Australian troops are being withdrawn from the Tallil air base in southern Iraq after their combat duties ended today.
The 550 soldiers of the Overwatch battle group had been deployed to train local Iraqi military personnel as well as having supported reconstruction and aid projects.
One of the election manifesto commitments of Australian Prime minister, Kevin Rudd, was that all troops would be withdrawn by mid 2008. A poll of Australians suggested that as many as 80 per cent of people opposed the Iraq conflict.
In February, Australia's top military commander, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, had said that after the troops pulled out, Australia would leave behind two maritime surveillance aircraft and a warship to help to patrol the oil platforms, as well as a small force of security and headquarters liaison troops.
The transportation of the military personnel will be completed by the end of June.
Australian troops have been deployed in Iraq since 2003, yet they have not suffered any casualties during the five-year commitment.
The Tallil air base will now be staffed by US personnel.