The troops, from an armoured division were given a ceremional send-off Friday from their base at Baumholder, western Germany, before heading for the Ramstein air base for transit.

The spokesman said it was not clear how long their mission would last.

The United States normally has some 60,000 soldiers stationed in Germany.

US troops made up the vast majority of the coalition forces which invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein.

SPACE.WIRE