D Company, 5/7 RAR (Combat Team Tiger) was part of the fourth battle group rotation to Iraq (OBG(W) 2) led by 2nd Cavalry Regiment and commenced its six-month tour in late 2006. On 22 September 2006 Dhi Qar became the second Governorate to move to provincial Iraqi control, prompting the Italian Government to withdraw its 1,600 troops from the province as the Iraqis 'moved into the lead'. Although the Italian Defence Minister had declared 'la misiona completa' for their deployment in southern Iraq, Coalition operations continued and the Australian battle group of about 500 people became responsible for overwatch in both Al Muthanna (population 550,000) and Dhi Qar (population 1.5 million). The tour was a busy one for the members of D Company who, following the de-linking of 5/7 RAR, became the first element of 5 RAR to serve on operations since the unit returned from Vietnam in 1970.