ZCZC
BFF-46
HEALTH-VIRUS-BRITAIN-IRAQ-DEFENCE
UK pulls some troops from Iraq training mission over virus
LONDON, March 19, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Britain is withdrawing some of its
troops from a global training mission in Iraq because of the coronavirus
outbreak, the defence ministry said on Thursday.
The decision to redeploy was made because there had been a “reduced
requirement for training” from the Iraqi security forces and a pause in
coalition and NATO training missions.
“The Ministry of Defence has therefore decided to redeploy some of its
personnel back to the United Kingdom,” it said in a statement.
Britain has been working alongside coalition partners in Iraq since 2014
to train Iraqi security forces but the programme has been “paused” for 60
days as a precaution because of COVID-19.
Key UK military personnel will remain in Iraq supporting the government in
Baghdad, the coalition and UK interests, the ministry said.
Troops brought home could be redeployed elsewhere in the world, but could
also be asked to support family members affected by the outbreak, which has
claimed more than 100 lives in Britain.
Defence minister Ben Wallace said: “In recent months the tempo of training
has significantly declined, which means that I am in a position to bring back
the current training unit to the UK.
“There remains a significant footprint of UK Armed Forces within the
coalition and elsewhere,” he added, promising London would remain committed
to the “complete defeat” of remnants of the Islamic State group.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1855HRS