British military was beaten in Basra, according to UK Government report.
Britain's Defence Committee said that in 2003 the plan was to secure Basra and hold the city under British control. But this was defeated by the Mehdi Army.
British forces failed to take Basra from the Mahdi Army led by the firebrand Shia rebel Moktada al Sadr.
We lost Iraq. We were unable to secure Basra in southern Iraq, said the British government report on 3 December 2007.
British forces came under direct heavy fire from the Mehdi militas in September 2005. Some of the Sadr's supporters were illegally arrested by British soldiers. Locals became angry with the British soldiers. This led to breakdown of relationship between British forces and Sadr, the rebel leader of Mahdi Army. This cutting of ties led to violent engagement.
Within 9 months, Britain military commanders had begun pleading with Prime Minister Tony Blair to get them out of Basra.
On 3 September 2007, after two years of heavy clashes, Sadr allowed the besieged British forces to retreat from Basra. He ordered his fighters "not to fire on the retreating British soldiers". British press covered the withdrawal from Basra, discribing "the cut and run" as a "humilating moment" in British military history.
2007-12-04 @ 18:50