Iceland's volcanic ash over Britain could be gone tomorrow – but back Friday (The Christian Science Monitor)

London – British airspace is expected to return to normal tomorrow as the ash cloud caused by Iceland’s Grimsvotn volcano drifts away. But experts say conditions over the United Kingdom are likely to deteriorate again by week's end.

The latest report from the Met Office, Britain's weather forecaster, predicts that dense ash will return Friday, covering the whole of the UK. That would almost certainly mean every flight in and out of the UK will be grounded.

Much will depend on weather patterns and the power of the volcano, which has begun to dissipate since it erupted Saturday. Experts suggest that its ferocity is on par with last year’s Eyjafjallajokull’s eruption, which effectively shut down European airspace for six days, costing airlines nearly $2 billion and caused havoc for millions of passengers.

IN PICTURES: Grimsvotn volcano erupts

Today, 500 European flights were canceled, mostly in and out of Scotland and northern England, although there has been some minor disruption in Scandinavia, too.

A spokesman for the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) described the situation in Scotland today as a “significant disruption” but said it was “looking good for the next couple of days."

But he confirmed that if high-density ash returned to the UK Friday, major disruption will be likely. “Most UK operators have got an agreement to fly through medium-density ash, but with high-density ash, airlines don’t have that kind of safety case agreed with engine manufacturers. So while the new procedures will allow activity to take place in lower concentrations of ash, the worst-case scenario would mean nothing could take off or land.”

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In another development, a bitter row has broken out between Ryanair and the CAA after Ryanair’s boss, Michael O’Leary, claimed there was no volcanic ash in Scottish airspace at all. Mr. O’Leary said Ryanair had sent a test flight into the high ash concentration zone earlier today and that no evidence of ash had been found.

Both the CAA and British Transport Secretary Philip Hammond dismissed the claims. The CAA denied that any Ryanair flight had entered an area of high ash concentration this morning, while Mr. Hammond called Ryanair’s claims “irresponsible."

IN PICTURES: Grimsvotn volcano erupts

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Britain ends unpopular Iraq mission

British airmen patrol near the fence at their main base at Basra Airport in southern Iraq in February 2009.Britain withdrawing its 170 troops from the countryBritain's defense secretary says the troops completed their task of training the Iraqi navyAt the height of the war, 46,000 British troops were deployed to Iraq

(CNN) -- Britain was withdrawing its troops Sunday from Iraq, ending a role that began with the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, British defense officials said.

The announcement that Britain was withdrawing its 170 troops came days earlier by Liam Fox, the defense secretary, who said the troops had completed their mission to train Iraqi naval forces.

"We now look forward to a strong, long-term defense relationship with Iraq," Fox told the House of Commons when he announced Wednesday that British troops would leave the country.

The announcement effectively ended Britain's role in Iraq, a role that was widely unpopular in the United Kingdom. About 179 British troops were killed during operations in Iraq.

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Britain when the war began, protesting the deployment of British troops to join then-President George Bush's "Coalition of the Willing." At the height of the war, more than 46,000 British troops were deployed primarily in and around the southern port city of Basra.

In 2009, Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered an inquiry into the UK's participation in the war.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair testified during the inquiry that Iraq needed to be confronted over its ambitions to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Britain ended its combat operations in Iraq in 2009 but maintained a small contingent, primarily members of the Royal Navy, to train Iraqi sailors and marines at the southern Iraqi port city of Umm Qasr. The remaining 150 or so military personnel were temporarily withdrawn in July 2009 after the Iraqi parliament failed to pass an agreement for their continued presence.

Britain will leave behind a small contingent to protect its personnel at its embassy in Baghdad. Additionally, Fox said a small number of British troops will continue in a NATO training mission in Iraq.

CNN's Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report.

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