Iraq: a deadly week
Updated on 09 August 2007
Four soldiers killed in just three days: the latest casualties in a deadly week for British forces in Iraq.
Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard of 1 Squadron the Royal Air Force Regiment was shot dead during a foot patrol on Tuesday.
Private Craig Barber from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh was shot in the driver's seat of his Warrior on Monday.
Two more soldiers - yet to be named - were killed by a bomb this morning.
Little wonder there is criticism that British forces are not in control as they prepare to pull out of Basra city.
An unnamed US intelligence official told the Washington Post that the British had basically been defeated in the south.
A view rejected by the army.
British operations in Iraq
The British initially controlled four provinces in southern Iraq: Al Muthana, Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Basra.
British forces have now handed over control of the three northern provinces to Iraqi security forces. The British contingent - now about five thousand strong - remains in only two bases in Basra.
The Basra Palace base in the city itself is expected to close within weeks. Then the British force in Iraq will essentially all be in one place.
Although it's a sprawling base - it even has its own bus service - it will be a single target for Iraqi insurgents.
The Militias in the Shia south of Iraq are widely believed to be backed by their Shia neighbour - Iran.
Today during a visit by the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki the Iranians were trying to deflect that criticism.
But even if all the Shia militias could be reigned in by Iran, Mr Al Maliki's government would still face as serious a threat from Sunni insurgents, not to mention Kurdish separatists.
A hundred and sixty eight British personnel have now been killed since the invasion of Iraq.
And as British forces withdraw to one last base many are now coming to the conclusion that they may soon be preparing to leave altogether.
