Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


1

Britain Ends Iraq Mission

Share

(Newser) – Britain officially ended its combat operations in Iraq today, lowering the flags of its armored brigade and turning over control of its Basra base to US troops, the Guardian reports. “The role of British ground forces is finished,” a defense official confirmed. “Today, Iraq is a success story,” added Gordon Brown, after a meeting with Nouri al-Maliki in London. “Britain can be proud of our legacy that we leave there.”

A ceremony was also held in Basra today to commemorate the 179 British personnel killed during the 6-year war. Brown said the UK owed them a “huge debt of gratitude.”

British Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon, center, former head of coalition operations in South Eastern Iraq, speaks during a hand over ceremony in Basra, Iraq, March 31, 2009.
British Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon, center, former head of coalition operations in South Eastern Iraq, speaks during a hand over ceremony in Basra, Iraq, March 31, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)
Britain's Major General Andy Salmon, left, shakes hands with US General Michael Oates to hand over military command of coalition forces in Basra, March 31, 2009.
Britain's Major General Andy Salmon, left, shakes hands with US General Michael Oates to hand over military command of coalition forces in Basra, March 31, 2009.   (AP Photo/Adrian Harlen, MOD, ho)
A British soldier looks at plaques on the memorial wall in front of 20th Armoured Brigade headquarters on the main coalition military base at Basra.
A British soldier looks at plaques on the memorial wall in front of 20th Armoured Brigade headquarters on the main coalition military base at Basra.   (AP Photo/Lewis Whyld/PA)
A British soldier kisses the flag of Great Britain during a hand over ceremony in Basra, Iraq, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
A British soldier kisses the flag of Great Britain during a hand over ceremony in Basra, Iraq, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
1 comment
VIEWING:
 
Fondue
Apr 30, 09 10:24 AM CDT
Good on ya, and we are proud of your service. Now, if we could just get our good men and women home too. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

1960 Stories

 British Treasure 
 Find Worth $5.4M 

Anglo-Saxon gold unearthed by jobless searcher this summer

2 hours, 12 minutes ago
(Newser) - An amateur British treasure hunter and the owner of the field where he struck gold are in for a big payday: His find turns out to be a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon cache of the precious metal. The collection is worth about $5.4 million, British Museum tells the AP . The treasure—... More »

MORE ABOUT:
United Kingdom • England • treasure • Britain • British Museum • gold • valuation • Anglo-Saxon

 UK Weighs 
 Super-Tough 
 Bank Bonus Laws 

Banks to be ordered to reveal numbers of millionaire staff

4 hours, 0 minutes ago
(Newser) - British bankers will soon face the toughest bonus rules in the world, according to the author of a report the government is pushing to implement. Bonus payments will be delayed for up to 5 years under the planned legislation, and banks will have the power to "claw back" bonuses... More »

MORE ABOUT:
executive compensation • bonuses • Britain • banking industry • executive bonuses

UK Man Busted in Teen Jockeys' Arson Deaths

Man held in tragedy that shocked the racing world

4 hours, 46 minutes ago
(Newser) - British police investigating the deaths of two promising young jockeys in a fire have arrested a man on suspicion of arson. Irish jockey Jamie Kyne, 18, died along with Jan Wilson, a Scottish 19-year-old, when fire ripped through an apartment complex housing young riders in September, the Independent reports. More »

MORE ABOUT:
horse racing • arson • Britain • jockeys

1960 Stories


End of an era as Britain takes a back seat
Times (UK)


World 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
Iraq • Basra • Britain • Iraq exit strategy

from our news partners