Scotland's military involvement in Iraq has come to a close.

One-hundred-and-fifty members of 51 Squadron arrived back at RAF Lossiemouth on Monday, welcomed home by family and friends.

One mother spoke of the pride she felt for her returning son, saying: "They've done a magnificent job and I'm very, very privileged to say that my son has done something really, really good in this world."

However, in the six years since the beginning of operations in the country, the human cost for our armed forces has been significant.

Nineteen Scots servicemen did not come home from the battle to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime and establish democracy in the country.

Among the contributions made by 51 Squadron was their recent delivery of a police station to a village near Basra.

Squadron Leader Jim Lennie praised his squadron's achievements, saying: "They've done an absolutely outstanding job and performed way beyond expectations and I think that's been recognised at the very highest levels of command out in theatre and back in the UK."

Yet one military analyst who served in the first Gulf War cast doubts on the country's long-term future.

Lt Col Stuart Crawford said: "The faultlines of dispute and conflict in Iraq run very deep through ethnic and religious lines.

"I fear that when our troops withdraw there will be a period of calm and then the country possibly might begin to head towards internal partition followed by civil disruption or indeed civil war."

For now, though, servicemen are just happy to be reunited with their families.