BASRA, IRAQ (June 29, 2003) - Following the deaths of six British soldiers and the wounding of eight others in Al Majarr Al Kabir on June 24, British Forces returned to the streets June 28.

The 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment battle group, supplemented by elements from the King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1st Battalion The King's Regiment, the Household Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, entered the town at approximately 1 p.m. and stayed until 5 p.m. While there, they conducted a number of vehicle checks, undertook a series of foot patrols and secured the area around the police station where Scene of Crime officers carried out an inspection of the premises.

British Forces have chosen not to return to the town before now to allow the situation to calm down and, working with local civilian leaders, it was judged that sufficient time had elapsed for a peaceful re-entry to take place.

Their purpose in returning to Al Majarr Al Kabir so recently after the tragic incidents earlier on in the week was: firstly, to re-establish the good relations that the British Forces have up to now enjoyed with the majority of the citizens of the town; secondly, to show to the citizens of Iraq, and more importantly to the citizens of Al Majarr Al Kabir, that despite this setback, the British will not be deterred from their objective of restoring law and order to the citizens of Iraq; and thirdly, to continue to assist in certain local essential infrastructure projects, namely the restoration of water and power supplies, and the assistance to several irrigation projects associated with the locally important sugar-cane crop; and fourthly, the British Forces also used today's operation to collect evidence to assist in their investigation relating to the killings of these soldiers.

Thanks to careful planning and close cooperation with local leaders, the return of the British Forces to Al Majarr Al Kabir was a peaceful affair. "We are happy to report," said Lt. Col. Ronnie McCourt, the military spokesman for the British Army in Iraq, "that not only have we returned to patrol the town but we have also been encouraged by the local leaders to strengthen our ties with them. Our aim is not to punish the good citizens of Al Majaar Al Kabir, but rather to continue to restore law and order, and allow them to resume their peaceful lives after the many years of brutal treatment they received at the hand of the previous regime."