US ends combat mission in Iraq

The last brigade of US combat troops has left Iraq ahead of a self-imposed August 31 deadline.

It brings to an end a war which has lasted more than seven years and claimed the lives of more than 4,000 US soldiers.

Much of the brigade departed more than a day ago, but the announcement was delayed for security reasons.

Over the course of the last week, hundreds of vehicles from the US base near Baghdad airport have been driven to Camp Virginia in Kuwait.

About 50,000 US troops will remain in the country in an advisory capacity, helping to train Iraqi forces in a new mission codenamed ‘Operation New Dawn’ which will run until the end of 2011.

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