<P> While the withdrawal of troops was welcomed by the nationalist parties Social Democratic and Labour Party and Sinn Féin, the unionist Democratic Unionist Party and Ulster Unionist Party opposed the decision, which they regarded as' premature' . The main reasons behind their resistance were the continuing activity of republican dissident groups, the loss of security - related jobs for the protestant community and the perception of the British Army presence as an affirmation of the political union with Great Britain . </P> <P> Adam Ingram, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, has stated that assuming the maintenance of an enabling environment, British Army support to the PSNI after 31 July 2007 was reduced to a residual level, known as Operation Helvetic, providing specialised ordnance disposal and support to the PSNI in circumstances of extreme public disorder as described in Patten recommendations 59 and 66, should this be needed, thus ending the British Army's emergency operation in Northern Ireland . </P> <P> The support to the police forces was primarily from the British Army, with the Royal Air Force providing helicopter support as required . A maritime component was supplied under the codename of Operation Grenada, by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in direct support of the Army commitment . This was tasked with interdicting the supply of weapons and munitions to paramilitaries, acting as a visible deterrence by maintaining a conspicuous maritime presence on and around the coast of Northern Ireland and Lough Neagh . </P> <P> The role of the armed forces in their support role to the police was defined by the Army in the following terms: </P>

Number of british soldiers killed in northern ireland