Iraq approves British troops' return

Iraq’s parliament today approved the return of a limited number of British troops to the country to help protect its southern oil ports.

Politicians approved a security pact today with Britain that would return about 100 troops to provide protection to the oil sites and train Iraqi forces. Iraq’s president and two vice presidents must still sign off on the agreement.

British forces ended combat operations in Iraq earlier this year, withdrawing all but 100 to 150 personnel that were training Iraq’s new navy.

Britain was forced to pull the remaining personnel out to Kuwait when Iraq’s parliament went on summer break without agreeing to allow the British to stay on to protect southern oil ports and train Iraqis there.