US decides to bring troops home early from Iraq

Albuquerque News.Net
Thursday 6th November, 2008

The US has reportedly decided to reduce its troop presence in Iraq due to the continued decline in violence.

The US contingent will be reduced to 14 combat brigades this month.

The reduction in US troops will be at least two months in advance of the originally planned withdrawal.

US Military officials said two brigades from the 101st Airborne Division will leave Iraq this month and only one will be replaced.

A brigade is roughly 3500 soldiers.

Initially the 3rd Brigade, 101st Division, was scheduled to leave this month, and the 2nd Brigade, 101st Division, was to leave by February.

However, on Wednesday the military announced that the 2nd Brigade would instead return to its Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home base this month, after serving for 13 months, rather than the expected 15.

US forces have also seen a dramatic decline in troop fatalities, with deaths falling to their second lowest monthly level in October.

14 US troops had been killed last month, including seven lost in combat.

That total was one more than the 13 deaths in July, the lowest monthly level of the war.

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