Families greet NI soldiers

Lt Col Tim Collins: Commanding Officer

Northern Ireland soldiers have returned from Iraq following the successful allied campaign in the Gulf.

Troops from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) were the first infantry unit to return to the UK from active service.

The 150 soldiers were greeted by friends and family at their headquarters in Canterbury on Sunday. More are due to return over the next few days.

During the campaign, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins said a revenge attack on his troops had been planned by members of Saddam Hussein's ruling party in southern Iraq.

He said members of the Baath Party had sanctioned the execution of one or more men belonging to the Royal Irish Regiment as reprisal for its invasion of the area.

The Royal Irish soldiers took control of a vast area of southern Iraq, stretching across 4,500 square kilometres.

They patrolled and secured the zone and were specially trained to clear areas that were booby-trapped, mined and a danger to the local population.

They also seized major stocks of weapons and ammunition.

Most were taken from the battlefield, but some were physically taken from Iraqi soldiers and Bedouin tribesmen.

Brize Norton

An Army spokesman said: "Over 600 soldiers will arrive back in the next few days at Howe Barracks in Canterbury to a joyous welcome from wives and families, along with the band of the Royal Irish Regiment."

The band has been specially flown across from the regiment's headquarters in Ballymena, County Antrim.

"1 Royal Irish played an important role in securing the southern oil fields of Iraq around Nasiriyah," said the spokesman.

"The soldiers will be flying home from Kuwait via Cyprus to Manston in Kent and RAF Brize Norton on a number of flights spread over three days."