A British army battalion that has been stationed in south Armagh for 26 years is to leave Northern Ireland in January.
The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, currently based at Bessbrook on the south Armagh border, will leave in the middle of January.
When they go the number of British troops in the North will fall below 9,000, lower than at any time since the early 1970's.
It will also mean that for the first time since the Troubles began only troops in battalions normally resident in Northern Ireland will be serving there.
Britain's Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram, said the decision had been taken as part of the normal process of keeping force levels under review.
He said: "In line with the security normalisation announced in August, the GOC Northern Ireland, in consultation with the Chief Constable of the PSNI, has concluded that the remaining roulement battalion can be removed from his command as it is not required for routine support to the police."
They are the last of the "roulement" battalions - troops on a six-month tour of duty unaccompanied by wives or families.
At one time there were six roulement battalions serving in the North - normally in the key hot spots.
Sinn Féin's Newry/Armagh MP Conor Murphy said "Anything that further reduces the number of British troops stationed in the North must be welcomed. "However, this does not equate to dealing with British army soldiers who are still very active on the ground particularly in rural communities such as South Armagh. "The British government must deliver on its commitment to a rolling programme of demilitarisation."
Additional reporting PA