BASRA, Iraq, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- British forces in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra pledged Thursday to deploy additional forces to the eastern banks of the Shatt al-Arab river near Iran.
The announcement comes as Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-Issawi welcomed British Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Prentice to Baghdad to discuss the security situation in Iraq, Voices of Iraq said.
A statement from the office of the deputy premier said the pair discussed coordination on various security elements throughout the country.
"The British forces will help the Iraqi forces in preventing weapons smuggling operations and other banned materials," said U.S military spokesman Capt. Chris Ford.
British forces are stationed at Basra International Airport. Sources for the Times of London in early August suggested British forces struck a deal with the Medhi Army of anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr ahead of an Iraq offensive targeting the militia in May.
