Final US combat troop leaves Iraq, more to leave

Washington, Aug 19: The final United States combat troops departed Iraq as a part of the move to withdraw US military force from Iraq by the end of 2011.

The 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division began to cross the border into Kuwait at early morning on Thursday, Aug 19. The troops departure came more than seven years after the Mar 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein"s regime.

Earlier President Barack Obama declared that the US combat troops will withdraw from Iraq by Aug 31, 2010. He also declared that all US military force will leave Iraq by the end of 2011 to focus the war in Afghanistan.

The US combat troops were responsible for training Iraqi security forces and assisting in counter-terrorism operations. The end of the US combat role marks a major shift for the Iraqi government, which has been taking on a greater responsibility for security operations.

Recently Pentagon reported that more than 4,415 US soldiers have died in Iraq. US' combat troops withdrawal will reduce the number of US military force in Iraq into 50,000.

OneIndia News