Fifteen British sailors and marines held captive for nearlytwo weeks in Iranarrived home Thursday, a day after the announcement of their release defused agrowing confrontation between the two countries.

The flight carrying 15 British military personnel freed by Iranafter a tense two-week stand-off arrived back in England on Thursday.

Flight BA 6634 from Tehrantouched down at Heathrow at 1102 GMT. The 15 were transferred to militaryhelicopters and flown to a military base at Chivenor in Devon, 200 milessouthwest of Londonfor a private meeting with their families and debriefing.

Prime Minister Tony Blairwelcomed their return but called for continued international pressure on Tehranfollowing the deaths of four servicemen in an attack in Iraqearlier in the day.

"Now it is far too early to say that the particular attack that killedour forces was an acted committed by any elements backed by the Iranian regime,so I make no allegation in respect of that particular incident," Blairsaid.