It's Iran we're fighting, says Basra commander

In pictures: Iraqis celebrate Basra hand-over
Frontline: Our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq

Telegraph: While the Army has frequently accused Iran of stirring violence across southern Iraq by arming Shia militias, no officer has been as blunt as Lt Col Patrick Sanders, commander of 4th Battalion The Rifles.

This may happen if Iraq's army needs help against Basra's Shia militias – who Britain accuses Iran of arming and training. "We are engaged, or we have been engaged, effectively in a proxy war with Iran and if that resumes then they (Iraq's security forces) will need us to help," Lt Col Sanders said.

He added that Basra was benefiting from a "lull in violence" and his troops had carried out a smooth and bloodless withdrawal from the palace in the city's centre.
This took place in cooperation with Iraq's British-trained forces and after talks with the Shia militias...more