Allied Troops Leave North Iraq, Vow to Aid Kurds

Allied troops ended their three-month occupation of northern Iraq on Monday, promising continued protection for the Kurds to prolong the success of a mission that brought half a million Kurdish refugees back to their homeland.

“We’ll just be a phone call away,” said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, commander of Operation Provide Comfort, as the U.S. flag was lowered at the allied headquarters at Zakhu, Iraq.

U.S. F-16 and A-10 jets swooped overhead as the last U.S. officers crossed the Habur bridge into Turkey, where three bases are expected to house up to 3,000 soldiers in an eight-nation quick-reaction force.

The force, backed by U.S. aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean Sea, will intervene to help the Kurds if Iraq tries to send troops into the old allied security zone or flies aircraft or helicopters anywhere near it, U.S. military spokesmen say.

Additionally, up to 10 American officers will cross the border into Zakhu each day to meet Iraqi officers and Kurdish guerrillas.

U.S. troops cheered as they left Iraq. Many had been frustrated when departure orders were postponed three weeks ago, apparently because of slow progress in talks between Baghdad and Kurdish leaders.