London, May 19, IRNA -- Britain is withdrawing its last remaining troops -more than 100 Navy personnel in Iraq, effectively ending its military involvement in the eight-year old war, one of the most controversial in recent history.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the UK-Iraq Training and Maritime Support agreement that has provided naval training and maritime support will conclude on Sunday and mark the formal end what it has called Operation Telic, since troops were involved in the 2003 invasion.
British forces have been involved in this important task since 2003 and, under the agreement signed in 2009, Royal Navy trainers have developed the capacity of the Iraqi maritime security forces to protect their territorial waters and offshore oil platforms, Fox said.
But it is not the end of our bilateral defence relationship with Iraq. We will continue to train members of the Iraqi security forces at UK training establishments; continue to contribute to the NATO training mission in Iraq; and continue to engage with the Government of Iraq at the highest levels on defence and security issues, he said in a parliamentary statement published Thursday.
He also added that Britain will continue to maintain defence capabilities in the wider Persian Gulf region as part of our enduring contribution to (Persian) Gulf security.
Some 179 British troops were killed and thousands seriously injured and maimed during the US-led war. According to the latest figures from Iraq Body Count, up to 110,225 civilians also lost their lives.
Source:
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30393425
Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the UK-Iraq Training and Maritime Support agreement that has provided naval training and maritime support will conclude on Sunday and mark the formal end what it has called Operation Telic, since troops were involved in the 2003 invasion.
British forces have been involved in this important task since 2003 and, under the agreement signed in 2009, Royal Navy trainers have developed the capacity of the Iraqi maritime security forces to protect their territorial waters and offshore oil platforms, Fox said.
But it is not the end of our bilateral defence relationship with Iraq. We will continue to train members of the Iraqi security forces at UK training establishments; continue to contribute to the NATO training mission in Iraq; and continue to engage with the Government of Iraq at the highest levels on defence and security issues, he said in a parliamentary statement published Thursday.
He also added that Britain will continue to maintain defence capabilities in the wider Persian Gulf region as part of our enduring contribution to (Persian) Gulf security.
Some 179 British troops were killed and thousands seriously injured and maimed during the US-led war. According to the latest figures from Iraq Body Count, up to 110,225 civilians also lost their lives.
Source:
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30393425
