After more than six years, British Forces began leaving southern Iraq. April 30, forces stationed at the Contingency Operating Base (COB) outside Basra were joined by Defence Secretary John Hutton for a day of reflection on the mission, commemoration of their losses, and celebration of British achievements in Iraq since Operation TELIC was launched in 2003.
Operation TELIC has cost the U.K. approximately $8.5 billion, with another $973 million in reconstruction funds.
The costs of current U.K.operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, over and above planned spending, comes from the Treasury Special Reserve and does not impact on the spending of other government departments. By the end of the current financial year, the government estimates $17.4 billion ( GBP13.2 billion) will have been spent from the Reserve to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.
The Divisional Headquarters was drawn down a month ago, and now the final withdrawal begins, transitioning from a combat mission to a bilateral relationship with Iraq.
Hutton said: “The past six years have seen a heavy price paid: 179 brave people have died in the service of their country on Operation Telic. Their sacrifice must not be forgotten, and that is why it was a privilege to attend the final, poignant service of commemoration in Basra.
“But Iraq’s progress over the six years, no matter how uneven or uncertain it may have appeared at times, shows that their sacrifice has not been in vain. Following the peaceful elections in January, Basra has a new democratically-elected and representative Provincial Council. Protected by the Iraqi Security Forces we have trained, the city finally has the chance to achieve its full potential.
The U.K.’s future relationship with Iraq will be one of partnership, Hutton said. Precisely what that consists of for the military is under discussion with the government of Iraq, but as many as 400 U.K. military personnel are likely to stay on, providing specialist training and mentoring support to Iraqi forces and leading the development of the Iraqi navy and playing a role in military officer training. Royal Navy ships are expected to continue to patrol the Gulf area.
Overall, about 6,500 took part in Operation TELIC.