The first U.S. military unit scheduled to withdraw from Iraq under the Bush administration's plan to reduce troop levels has left the war zone, a military spokeswoman said Friday. "The entire MEU is back aboard the Bonhomme Richard Strike Group on our way home," said Capt. Pamela Marshall.
A brigade combat team, which normally includes about 4,000 troops, is expected to leave Iraq in mid-December followed by four other brigade combat teams and two Marine battalions.
The U.S. force now totals about 165,000 in Iraq. |