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In a statement to the House of Commons today, Wednesday 21 February 2007, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced a reduction in the number of UK Forces in Iraq from 7,100 to approximately 5,500. This is a reduction of nearly 1,600 UK troops.
We are able to announce this reduction in Force levels because of the growing capacity of the Iraqi security forces.
Security in Al Muthanna and Dhi Qae has already been handed over to Iraqi authorities but now in Basra, over the coming months, more responsibility will be tranferred to the Iraqis, subject as always to conditions on the ground.
We are also consolidating the number of bases UK Forces currently occupy in Iraq.
With the exception of UK Personnel who will remain at Basra Palace, the British Forces will be located at Basra Air base and be in a support role. They will transfer Shaibah Logistics Base, the Old State Building and the Shaat Al'Arab Hotel to full Iraqi control.
This announcement reflects the progress that has been made in the south towards complete Iraqi self-reliance, and also the challenges that remain.
The plan is still to maintain a significant UK presence in Southern Iraq, in order to ensure the sustainability of the transition to complete Iraqi responsibility for security.
The full detail of the troop repositioning will be set out in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament from the Defence Secretary Des Browne tomorrow, Thursday 22 February 2007.
The full text of the Prime Minister's statement (checked against delivery) is as follows:
With permission, Mr Speaker, I shall make a Statement, on recent developments in Iraq and across the Middle East.
Saddam was removed from power in May 2003. In June of 2004 the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution setting out the support of the international community for the incoming Interim Government of Iraq, for a political process leading to full democratic elections overseen by the United Nations itself and for Iraq
