The British Royal Navy has begun a review of the circumstances surrounding Iran's capture of its 15 personnel, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported Friday.

Rules of engagement, equipment and procedures will all be analyzed, said the report.

The First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Jonathon Band told BBC Radio 4's Today program that "This incident was a most extraordinary act conducted in those waters. I think our people have reacted extremely well in very difficult circumstances."

"The boarding operations taking place that morning in the northern Gulf were sanctioned by the United Nations under specific resolutions," he said, adding that "they were being conducted under operational procedures with the coalition of the U.S., the UK and Australian forces."

Band said British boarding operations had stopped for the time being but coalition operations were continuing under British command.

The Ministry of Defense said Britain would continue to ask Iran to return its two captured boats used by the 15 sailors and marines.

The review began one day after the 15 British sailors detained by Iran for nearly two weeks were safely reunited with their families back in England.

After arriving at London's Heathrow Airport at midday, the personnel, eight from the Royal Navy and seven from the Royal Marines, flew in two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters to Royal Marine Base Chivenor in Devon, southwest England, where they met their families.

After that, they were due to have medical checkups and undergo a debriefing.

On their arrival at the base, the freed sailors issued a joint statement, saying being home was a "dream come true."

"The past two weeks have been very difficult. But by staying together as a team we kept our spirits up, drawing great comfort from the knowledge that our loved ones would be waiting for us on our return to the UK," said the statement.

On Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran would free the captured British sailors later that day.

The announcement came moments after the president honored the Iranian coast guards who intercepted the British personnel.

It was not clear what prompted Iran to release the sailors.

According to Sky News reports, the British government made no deal with Iran to secure the release but it was in dialogue with the Middle East state. Qatar and Syria had played roles in releasing the British navy personnel, the reports said.

On March 23, the 15 British naval personnel were seized by Iranian forces when they were patrolling off the Iraqi border. Iran insisted that the British boats illegally entered its territorial waters, while Britain said its soldiers were in Iraqi territorial waters.

Source: Xinhua