Safety in numbers: British troops join a Basra street patrol
Picture: Cpl Mark Nesbit RLC

Report: Cliff Caswell

A PHASED withdrawal from Basra has been put on hold after scores of British troops were pressed into action to help deal with an uprising in southern Iraq.

Soldiers from 4 Mechanised Brigade units including the 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, have been passing on their infantry experience to their Iraqi counterparts, embedding in their ranks and helping take the battle to the rogue militia enemy.

The move prompted a swift announcement by the British Government that an imminent withdrawal of 2,500 troops would be put on ice as clashes between Iraqi forces and insurgents erupted around Basra and the neighbouring provinces of Dhi Qar and Al-Muthanna.

In addition, several days of fighting were reported around the port of Umm Qasr – the country’s main maritime gateway – although the Iraqi Army and Navy soon restored control. A number of “corrupt individuals” were removed following the action and a backlog of goods, including food and oil, were soon on the move.

As this issue went to press, coalition commanders remained confident that the Iraqi-led Operation Charge of the Knights had so far been successful in inflicting a serious blow against criminal militias attempting to destabilise the region.

In an interview, the British Army’s spokesman in Basra, Maj Tom Holloway, KRH, told Soldier that Charge of the Knights had the solid backing of coalition troops.

As well as British soldiers providing mentoring support on the ground, he confirmed that Royal Engineers had helped to build barricades and defences, assisting sapper counterparts from the Iraqi Army’s 14th Division.

British personnel had also been providing logistic and intelligence support while Royal Air Force Tornado jets and US Apache helicopters had provided top cover.

Maj Holloway added that the British presence in Basra had been bolstered by hundreds of American personnel – led by Maj Gen George Flynn, US Army – who had been pulled in from Baghdad to continue mentoring Iraqi units they have been training in the north of the country.

The British officer praised the Iraqi forces for their courage during the uprising adding that they were turning their attention to the “harder core” elements of the troublemakers.

Scores of weapons had been netted in the raids, including rocket launchers, mortars, anti-aircraft missiles and many stolen Government vehicles.

Maj Holloway said: “We have in the order of 700 US soldiers around the Contingency Operating Base as well as assets including Apache helicopters, which the British do not have in theatre.

“It is encouraging that operations have been progressing as successfully as they have. It is a baptism of fire for the Iraqi Army but they have proved themselves.

“They have been making really good progress. They have cleared the Al Quibia district to the south west of the city and located and rescued British journalist Richard Butler.” He added that they had also been conducting high-profile ops in the volatile suburb of Hayyaniyah.

Maj Holloway emphasised that the hectic pace of action had fired the morale of the 4 Mech Bde soldiers. “Business has been hectic but the troops have a real sense that we are doing something positive,” he added.

Meanwhile MPs have been told that UK force levels in southern Iraq would remain consistent for the time being.

Addressing the House of Commons, Defence Secretary Des Browne warned that planned British troop cuts – from around 5,000 to 2,500 – were now unlikely to take place in the near future “in light of events”. He added: “What is happening in Basra is a manifestation of our policy to give Iraqis control of their own security – the road will not always
be smooth.

“We, along with our coalition partners, are providing support to the Iraqis in line with our commitments and in accordance with our usual rules of engagement.

“Requests for support are being made through the coalition, and UK forces have continued to meet all of their obligations as part of the Multi-National Corps,” said Mr Browne.

Op Telic may have been eclipsed in recent months by the heavy fighting against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, but the battle for peace is not over yet.

By providing support on the streets of Basra, British troops have proved the value of the overwatch capability and demonstrated the ability to intervene when needed.

Above all, the Iraqi Army has showed that it has the experience and maturity to operate independently and that it is fast becoming a competent force in its own right.