Gorilla’s Guides is reporting an hour ago (0615 AM, Eastern Time) that Britain has withdrawn its forces from the joint coordination center located in the compound of the security police command in central Basra (the JCC in al-Hakimiyah).

Both WNA and Aswat Al Iraq are reporting that the British have confirmed that in an operation yesterday evening they evacuated their troops from the joint coordination center located in the compound of the security police command in central Basra (the JCC in al-Hakimiyah). In an operation last night the British moved their troops out of the JCC and transferred them to the main British base in Basrah International Airport 25KM northwest of the city.

The British denied that the evacuation is part of an operation to remove their forces from Basrah saying that it was part of the planned handover of security functions to local forces.

So far this year the British have evacuated three of their bases around Basrah.

British occupation forces in Irak number about 5500 they withdrew 1600 soldier others in the past months.
Britain is the biggest partner of the United States in the occupation of Iraq and its troops were the second largest contingent participating in the American led invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

The CIA had maintained a listening post in Basra Palace, conducting radio, telephone, and cell phone espionage on Iran, and it was reported a week ago that they hade begun removing equipment in anticipation of the British consolidation to Basra airfield.

A report in this morning’s Independent indicates the US will not try to influence the British consolidation.

Defence ministry insiders confirmed last night that Britain plans to stick to its timetable to pull out of its stronghold at Basra Palace "within days or weeks", despite misgivings from US military and government figures that local Iraqi forces are not ready to take control.

US commanders in Baghdad want Britain to delay the pull-out of 500 British troops, fearing the Iraqi security services are not sufficiently well trained or equipped to control lawlessness.

But in frank discussions between British and American military commanders on the ground, Britain has made it clear it believes the Iraqis are perfectly capable of taking over as early as next week.

The pull-out to Basra airport will have a significant impact on the safety of British troops who are the target of increasingly frequent attacks.

This is going to over-over-stretch our over-stretched forces, as they will now have to increase the security of the daily convoys coming out of Kuwait.

I’m sure the never-right are going to have a very bad day….