U.S. hands over last military base to Iraq

 　　BASE IMAM ALI, Iraq, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military handed over its last base in Iraq to the Iraqi authorities on Friday, a day after the U.S. force marked the end of its mission in the country.

　　The transfer ceremony was held at the base in the outskirts¹ of the southern city of Nasiriyah.

　　U.S. Col. Richard Kaiser, commander of the base, and Hussein al- Assadi, representative of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, signed over at the ceremony.

　　"We proudly announce to the Iraqi people today the handover of the last American military base," Assadi told reporters after the signing, adding that "Today we are turning the last page on the occupation."

　　The Imam Ali Base, which the U.S. military brands as Camp Adder², housed 15,000 American troops at the height.

　　Friday's handover came after U.S. Defense³ Secretary Leon Panetta announced to end the U.S. military mission in Iraq Thursday near the Baghdad International Airport.

　　Some 4,000 soldiers remain in Iraq, down from a peak of nearly 170,000 troops and 505 bases across the country.

　　Most of the remaining troops are to depart before the Dec. 31 pullout deadline.

　　The U.S. embassy, in the wake of the withdrawal⁴, will retain 157 U.S. soldiers for the training of Iraqi forces, and another team of U.S. marines to guard the diplomatic mission.

1 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

2 adder   

n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇

参考例句：

• The adder is Britain's only venomous snake.蝰蛇是英国唯一的一种毒蛇。
• An adder attacked my father.一条小毒蛇攻击了我父亲。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。