Prince Harry will go to Iraq: UK army chief

The head of the British army said Monday that he had personally decided that Prince Harry, the third in line to the throne, will serve with a combat unit in Iraq.

The head of the British army said Monday that he had personally decided that Prince Harry, the third in line to the throne, will serve with a combat unit in Iraq.

Gen Sir Richard Dannatt said the decision would be kept under review, but he hoped his statement would end media speculation on Harry’s deployment. “The decision has been taken by myself that he will deploy in due course,” Dannatt said. “I would urge that the somewhat frenzied media activity surrounding this particular story should cease in the interests of the overall security of all our people deployed in Iraq.”

Over the past two weeks, newspapers have reported threats by Iraqi insurgents to kill or kidnap the prince, including claims his photograph had been widely circulated among militants. Military chiefs acknowledge that Harry would be an attractive target and that his presence could lead to a surge in attacks on British forces.

Story continues below this ad

In fact, The Guardian on Saturday reported that Shiite militants in Iraq claim to have set up a special squad to target Prince Harry if he is deployed there . The newspaper quoted a commander in the Mahdi Army, the militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, as saying the group had informants inside British army bases who would tip them off about the Prince’s presence.

“One of our aims is to capture Harry, we have people inside the British bases to inform us on when he will arrive,” the newspaper quoted commander Abu Mujtaba as saying.

The Guardian said it could not

substantiate the claims made by Abu Mujtaba’s and the British military dismissed them as propaganda.

Harry, 22, is a second lieutenant in the British army. His regiment, the Blues and Royals, is due to be deployed in Iraq in the next few weeks.

Story continues below this ad

Clarence House,Prince Charles’ London office, would not comment on Dannatt’s statement.

Cyclone Montha: Schools closed, fishing activities suspended in Andhra, Odisha

India40 min ago

A severe cyclonic storm, named Montha, is expected to make landfall along India's east coast between Odisha and Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued warnings for heavy rain and rough seas, with the potential for extremely heavy rain in certain areas.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS