Tweet
The final group of soldiers from the 3rd Battalion The Rifles have arrived back in the UK from a challenging six-month tour in Afghanistan.The soldiers met their families at Redford barracks in Edinburgh.
The troops mainly operated in the Sangin and Kajaki areas of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.
They endured a particularly challenging tour, 14 soldiers died in the last six months - nearly half of the 30 British army deaths in that period.
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, Commanding Officer of 3 Rifles, said: "We at least draw some comfort from the fact that we have achieved a great deal in our time."
The BBC's Jonathan Beale, who pointed out that Sangin "is often described as the most dangerous place on Earth", said: "3 Rifles have been called the most battle-scarred unit in Afghanistan."
One of the returning soldiers, Lance Corporal Stefan Rees, told BBC News: "It's been a very tough time. Obviously, I feel for the ones who have fallen. I'm just glad to be home."
A homecoming parade will be held for the troops in Edinburgh city centre next month.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.