Britain may cut troops in Gulf to 5000

Britain may cut troops in Gulf
30.03.2003 [10:28]


The number of British troops serving in the Gulf could be cut dramatically from 45,000 to 5,000 if the US-led war against Iraq drags on for at least six months.

"Because of the massive pressures on our boys all over the world we will have to consider our commitment in the Gulf very carefully over the coming weeks," the Daily Mirror newspaper yesterday quoted a top British official as saying.

"If this is dragging on in six months' time I would expect forces to be cut from 45,000 to 5,000. Australia and the US will have to take more of the burden," he said.

Britain's army chief General Mike Jackson has acknowledged that sustaining British force levels in the Gulf was a problem in the long run.

"It's certainly sustainable while we get this job done (but) ... not sustainable over a long period of time," he said.

Most of the British troops deployed in the Gulf have been in the region for two months at the most.

"Our standard operational tour is six months. Whether that is appropriate inside the six months we will make a judgement," he said.

Meanwhile, the chief British military spokesman in the Gulf said British forces were well on track to meet their main objectives in Iraq.


US and British officials have suggested stray Iraqi anti-aircraft missiles could have been to blame for explosions in Baghdad which killed scores of civilians this week. Iraq insists Western bombing is responsible.


Gulf Daily News