The British Army’s operations in Northern Ireland will end at midnight Tuesday after almost four decades of infighting.

About 300,000 personnel was involved in the campaign dubbed “Operation Banner,” 763 servicemen being killed by paramilitary groups, most of them in terrorist attacks.

The support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be narrowed down as of Wednesday, only a garrison of 5,000 troopers remaining in the region. The troops will not participate in any active operations and will be available for deployment around the world, security remaining in the hands of local police forces.

Defence Minister Bob Ainsworth outlined the importance of this measure, labeling it as “the beginning of a new era” and praised “the commitment, bravery and sacrifice” of servicemen and all those dedicated to peace in the embattled province.

“This marks the beginning of a new era for the UK Armed Forces in Northern Ireland when, as with other parts of the country, the military will become very much part of the community.

“The impact of the commitment since 1969 has been considerable on both the military themselves and on the MoD civilians supporting them. They and the community at large have suffered both death and injury,” the Labour Party member said.

The operation began in 1969, when the feud between Catholics and Protestants reached unprecedented levels, troops being deployed in Northern Ireland “to support the police in defeating terrorism and maintaining public order.”

But the British peacekeeping forces soon became a target for the Irish Republican Army (IRA), most of the troops losing their lives in attacks set up by the organization. The situation became stable throughout the years with Catholics and Protestants managing to share power and end this wave of violence.

An homage to those fallen in the line of duty was held at St Anne's Cathedral in the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast.