Iraq coalition shrinking

last updated 8 January 2015

London

The British government announced this week that it would begin substantially reducing its 7,200-member force in Iraq. "I do not believe it is right to give precise numbers," said Defense Minister Des Browne. "But I can tell you that by the end of the next year, I expect numbers of British forces in Iraq to be significantly lower—by a matter of thousands." Browne said the reduction depended on the Iraqi government's taking over security in British-held areas. Also this week, Poland announced that it would withdraw its remaining 900 soldiers by the end of 2007.