UK troop deployment switched in Iraq due to military overstretch
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Jan 27, IRNA
UK Troops-Iraq Switch
British soldiers from the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters regiment in central England have been suddenly switched to domestic duties after being originally told at the end of last year that they would "shortly" be sent to Iraq.
The Conservative's Shadow Minister for Homeland Security Patrick Mercer, said that the Ministry of Defence had suddenly found that it was going to be left short of troops back at home when more personnel were sent to Afghanistan.
"The Government is asking our soldiers to do too much and, at exactly the same time, cutting our infantry regiments at the time of greatest need," the MP from Newark told the local Evening News in Derbyshire.
Mercer, who previously served with the Foresters, said that the regiment was now being redeployed to protect Royal palaces even though senior officers had flown out to Iraq to make arrangements to replace the Royal Irish Regiment in Basra later this month.
The Defence Ministry revealed that Irish regiment was now being replaced in Iraq by the Royal Scots, after deployment arrangements were cancelled.
"This is an operational matter," a defence spokeswoman told the Evening News. "We take the operational decision which is most appropriate at the time," she was quoted saying.
Currently, some 9,000 British soldiers remain deployed in Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein.
According to official figures, 98 UK servicemen have so far been killed, including two-thirds by enemy action, and around 230 injured.
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