Last Update: Tuesday, November 28, 2006. 8:00am (AEDT)

Britain to cut Iraq troops by 'thousands'

 

By Stephanie Kennedy in London

 

The British Government says it expects thousands of its troops will return from Iraq before the end of next year.

 

There are just over 7,000 British troops based in southern Iraq.

 

British Defence Minister Des Browne says there will be a significant reduction after its soldiers hand over several provinces to the Iraqi forces.

 

"By the end of next year I expect numbers of British forces in Iraq to be lower by a matter of thousands," he said.

 

"It's the first time the British Government has given a clear timetable for troops to pull out," he said.

 

But Mr Brown says the "drawing down" of troops did not mean a withdrawal, because British troops would still be needed to back up Iraq's security forces.

 

The Government would not give any details on how many would be required or for how long.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1798737.htm

I haven't heard this on the UK news. Has anyone else?

I haven't heard this on the UK news. Has anyone else?

 

 

yes! :lol:

I seriously doubt that any of them will 'return' as such, they'll likely be redeployed to Afghanistan or elsewhere....

For their sake I hope they will return home. They will be messed up enough already.