Tonga's last contingent of 55 Tongan soldiers who had been serving in Iraq arrived safely at the Fua'amotu International Airport at 5 am on December 18 on a special flight by a United States Airforce C17.

This fourth contingent was the last to be deployed to Iraq for the Operation Iraq Freedom II Peacekeeping Mission and their arrival home marked the conclusion of Tonga's deployment in the war in Iraq, said Lt Col Siamelie Latu of the Tonga Defence Services.

The soldiers were personally welcomed at the airport by the Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele who thanked them for successfully completing the mission to Iraq.

Following a welcome ceremony at the airport terminal, which included the troops performing a Sipi Tau, they then attended a prayer service at the Taliai Camp, attended by members of their family.

US Airforce

The US Airforce C17 had eight crew members, including four pilots. Lft Ma'u a Liaison officer for the Americans said the crew were touring the island of Tongtapu before flying back to the United States early Friday morning.

He said the aircraft was in Germany when they received orders to bring the Tongan troops from Kuwait on Saturday, December 5.

They were initially scheduled to arrive in Tonga on Tuesday, December 16 but due to airforce requirements in Singapore they could not land so they flew via Guam.