BAS2003040612 - BASRA, Iraq, April 6 (UPI) -- Members of the Irish Guard, aka Desert Rats, leave a former technical school and Bath Party Headquarters they had taken control of only days previous, in route a dawn raid on Basra, Iraq on April 6, 2003. British forces faced fierce resistance inside the city of Basra but kept driving forward taking over control of most of Iraq's second largest city after days of fighting. dg/cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI | License Photo

BAS2003040613 - BASRA, Iraq, April 6 (UPI) -- The rear door of a Warrior armored personel carrier from the Royal Scots Dragoon, 7th Armored Brigade, aka Desert Rats, displays a little door art as the crew rest just outside a former technical school and Bath Party Headquarters they had taken control of only days previous, during a dawn raid on Basra, Iraq on April 6, 2003. British forces faced fierce resistance inside the city of Basra but kept driving forward taking over control of most of Iraq's second largest city after days of fighting. dg/cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI | License Photo

BAS2003040615 - BASRA, Iraq, April 6 (UPI) -- A Warrior armored personel carrier from the Royal Scots Dragoon, 7th Armored Brigade, aka Desert Rats, and it's crew leave a former technical school and Bath Party Headquarters they had taken control of only days previous, in route a dawn raid on Basra, Iraq on April 6, 2003. British forces faced fierce resistance inside the city of Basra but kept driving forward taking over control of most of Iraq's second largest city after days of fighting. dg/cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI | License Photo

BAS2003040610 - BASRA, Iraq, April 6 (UPI) -- A member of the British Media embedded with the Royal Scots Dragoon, 7th Armored Brigade, uses a war torn road sign just outside a former technical school and Bath Party Headquarters, the British had taken control of only days previous, during a dawn raid on Basra, Iraq on April 6, 2003. British forces faced fierce resistance inside the city of Basra but kept driving forward taking over control of most of Iraq's second largest city after days of fighting. dg/cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI | License Photo

BAS2003040611 - BASRA, Iraq, April 6 (UPI) - Mesha, an Iraqi boy, drives his wagon away from Basra, Iraq, after members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, 7th Armored Brigade set out on dawn raid on April 6, 2003. British forces faced fierce resistance inside the city of Basra but kept driving forward taking over control of most of Iraq's second largest city after days of fighting. cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI | License Photo

BAS2003040607 - BASRA, Iraq, April 6 (UPI) - A Warrior armored personnel carrier from the Royal Scots Dragoon, 7th Armored Brigade, aka Desert Rats, leave a former technical school and Bath Party Headquarters they had taken control of only days previous, in route a dawn raid on Basra, Iraq on April 6, 2003. British forces faced fierce resistance inside the city of Basra but kept driving forward taking over control of most of Iraq's second largest city after days of fighting. cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI. | License Photo

REX2003040811 - Basra, Iraq, April 8 (UPI) -- A Royal Marine for 42 CDO looks out over Basra on April 8, 2003. A car smokes in the distance after contact with a 42nd Patrol shortly before the city was secured. nn/Rex Features UPI **Europe Out** | License Photo

REX2003040816 - Basra, Iraq, April 8 (UPI) -- Royal Marines from 42 CDO head out on patrol from the former palace of Saddam Hussein in Basra on April 8, 2003, shortly after securing the city. nn/Rex Features UPI **Europe Out** . | License Photo

REX2003040803 - Basra, Iraq, April 8 (UPI) -- Col Messenger of the 40th Commandos Marines (left) briefs Commodore Miller Commander of Amphibious Task Group on the progress of 3 Commando Brigades into Basra, Iraq on April 8, 2003. nn/Rex Features UPI **Europe Out** | License Photo

REX2003040810 - Basra, Iraq, April 8 (UPI) -- Royal Marines from 42 CDO set off to Basra on April 8, 2003, shortly before the city was secured. nn/Rex Features UPI **Europe Out** . | License Photo

REX2003040801 - Basra, Iraq, April 8 (UPI) -- Col Messenger of the 40th Commando Royal Marines briefs Commodore Miller commander of Amphibious Task Group, Captain Johns commanding officer of HMS Ocean and Captain Massey of HMS Ark Royal (Front to rear) on the progress of 3 commando brigades into Basra, Iraq on April 8, 2003. nn/REX FEATURES UPI **Europe Out** | License Photo

REX2003040805 - Basra, Iraq, April 8 (UPI) -- A Royal Marine from the 40th Commando patrols the southern road into Basra, Iraq on April 8, 2003. nn/Rex Features UPI **Europe Out** | License Photo

REX2003041012 - Iraq, April (UPI) --A member of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers guards a Styx anti ship missile found in the Maqal area of Basra, Iraq, in April, 2003. rlw/REX FEATURES UPI.**Europe Out** | License Photo

Basra, IRAQ - Soldiers from the Royal Air Force in the lounge area of Basrah International Airport. mh/sef/Steven E. Frischling UPI | License Photo

REX20030041101 - BASRA, Iraq, April (UPI) -- A Challenger 2 Tank from the Queen's Royal Lancers holds a position as a local biker rides by in Basra, Iraq, in April, 2003. rlw/REX FEATURES UPI.**Europe Out** | License Photo

BASRA, Iraq, March 31 (UPI) -- Britain turned over command in the Basra area of Iraq to the United States Tuesday, a prelude to the country withdrawing its remaining troops in the country.

At one point, British military personnel in Iraq numbered greater than 40,000, The New York Times reported. Most British troops are scheduled to leave Iraq by July.


At a ceremony in Basra, Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon of Britain's Royal Marines turned over control of forces in the Basra area to U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Oates.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of American forces in Iraq, praised the British deployment in Iraq, the Times reported.

"None of this has been easy. We have faced tremendous adversity," he said. "You have given the people of Iraq an opportunity to build a bright and prosperous future."

Since 2003, 179 British troops have died in Iraq.