Last Updated: Friday, 25 May 2012, 13:06 GMT  
Title U.S. military convoys to leave Iraq under tribal protection
Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Country Iraq | United States of America
Publication Date 4 December 2011
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. military convoys to leave Iraq under tribal protection, 4 December 2011, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4eeb155da.html [accessed 27 May 2012]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

U.S. military convoys to leave Iraq under tribal protection

December 04, 2011

With less than a month to go in Iraq, the U.S. military has paid tribal fighters with cash to help provide a safe exit from Iraq after more than eight years of war.

Much of the U.S. military machine is leaving Iraq by heading south to Kuwait down the main highway that links Baghdad with Basra a tempting target for Iranian-backed militants.

Fewer than 10,000 U.S. military personnel are still in Iraq, while five bases still remain to be handed over to Iraqi forces.

U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Crissman says relations have been repaired with more than 20 tribal sheikhs along the route, and they are being paid to provide security along the highway.

The road passes through desert and farmland but very few villages, raising the risk of attack.

compiled from agency reports

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Topics: Armed forces/military,

Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036

Region maps Americas Africa Europe Asia Oceania
Page generated in 0.021 seconds