BASRA, Iraq, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- British military forces handed over control of a $2.3 million joint military operations command center in Basra to their Iraqi counterparts.
A joint provincial operations center was established at the Shatt al-Arab hotel, which houses the main operations center in Basra.
British military forces are deployed in Basra as part of Operation Telic in support of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. There are around 4,000 British troops stationed there, down from 18,000 in 2003.
Control over the command center was attended by top Iraqi, British and U.S. military commanders. Iraqi Maj. Gen. Mohammed Jowad Hameidi said the relative calm in the vital port city was important to the national reconstruction effort.
"We have to save and enjoy the security in Basra in order to make this city the most important place in Iraq for economic and investment opportunities," he said.
Civilian authorities and Iraqi security officers will man the joint command center, creating a link between central and local officials, the British Royal Air Force said in a statement on its Web site.
