Britain has ended its combat operations in Iraq after handing over control of the southern city of Basra to US forces. The ceremony brought to a close the UK’s six-year mission in the country, in which 179 service personnel died
UK forces pull out of Iraq
Soldiers salute at a memorial service attended by John Hutton, UK defence secretary, at the British contingency operating base at Basra international airport on April 30
Brigadier Tom Beckett shakes hands with US Colonel Henry A Kievenaar, as he transfers power during a ceremony at the British base at Basra international airport on April 30
British troops gather in front of the Basra Memorial Wall for a service to remember the 179 British service personnel who lost their lives during the six-year Iraq operation
Mr Hutton washes down a helicopter during his visit to the British contingency operating base at Basra international airport. The withdrawal of British combat troops from Iraq has already begun and by 31 July 2009 the vast bulk of UK troops will have left the country
An Iraqi market in Al Qurnah near Basra is patrolled by Iraqi and British soldiers who have focused their efforts during their last months in Iraq on on training and mentoring the Iraqi army
A British soldier with Queens Royal Hussars takes part in a joint patrol with soldiers from the Iraqi army’s 51 Brigade in Basra
A Iraqi soldier listens to a joint briefing with British soldiers from the Queens Royal Hussars before taking part in the joint patrol
An RAF gunner lets an Iraqi boy look through his rifle sights during one of the UK troops’ last combat operations, a counter insurgency patrol in the village of Al Khora, near Basra on April 28
A buglar plays the last post as troops lower the flag after their last combat operational patrol from their forward operating base, FOB Oxford, near Basra, on April 29
A helicopter collects kit and equipment from FOB Oxford on April 29
Riflemen take down a tent at FOB Oxford as it closes for the final time
The night convoy from the main British base at Basra to Kuwait consisting of 100s of articulated lorries carrying military equipment is set to continue through to the summer
Nouri Al-Maliki, Iraqi prime minister, signs a joint declaration of friendship and cooperation with Gordon Brown, UK prime minister, in London on April 30. Mr Brown said Iraq was open for business and urged British companies to look for opportunities there
