U.S. has begun shifting troops, aircraft from Iraq to Afghanistan
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has begun to withdraw fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft from Iraq.
Officials said many of the aircraft withdrawn from Iraq would be deployed in Afghanistan. They said such a decision would be made over the next few months.
Officials said other military units have been leaving Iraq for Afghanistan. They said hundreds of members of engineering units along with their mine-resistance patrol vehicles were ordered to board planes for Afghanistan.
"Our commanders have decided we're more needed in Afghanistan than we are here," Lt. Chris Selleck, from the U.S. Army's 4th Engineer Battalion, said.
Officials said the removal of the aircraft began earlier this year when the U.S. Air Force decided not to replace an F-16 squadron in Iraq. On April 1, the Marine Corps formally ended its mission of the Osprey.
"This is the start of an effort that will take several years," an official said.
"The Marines have done great proving the capabilities of the Osprey in a deployed environment," Lt. Col. Christopher Seymour, commanding officer of VMM-266, said.
Officials said the final Osprey squadron, based in Assad air base, would leave Iraq by June 2009. Since September 2007, three Osprey squadrons have been rotated in Iraq.
"The Osprey platform has passed the test of survivability," Maj. Brian McAvoy, the executive officer of Marine Medium Tilt-rotor squadron VMM-266, said. "The experience we got here is vital to the growth of the aircraft."