For the majority of British forces in Iraq, their six-year occupation came to an end on July 31, a deadline set in an accord signed between London and Baghdad in 2008 for the full withdrawal of British troops. The withdrawal of all but approximately 400 service personnel of the remaining 4000 British troops still on Iraqi soil brings to an end a six-year occupation during which – at its height in the months after the 2003 invasion – saw 46,000 troops involved in combat operations, making Britain the second-biggest member of the US-led coalition. Britain began its scaling back at the turn of the year when it returned the southern Basra province and its airport to Iraqi control and then formally ceased combat operations and began its full withdrawal from the region on March 31. At the beginning of June, Britain and Iraq signed a draft agreement for British naval personnel to remain in the country beyond the agreed withdrawal date. According to the Iraqi government, around 400 British service personnel and five naval vessels would remain in the country that will leave by 2010.
BRITISH TROOPS WITHDARW FROM IRAQ
For the majority of British forces in Iraq, their six-year occupation came to an end on July 31, a deadline set in an accord signed between London and Baghdad in 2008 for the full withdrawal of British troops.
