First Minister Alex Salmond has paid tribute to the three soldiers killed this week in Afghanistan.
Private Robert “Bobby” Hetherington, Corporal William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint died when a bomb ripped through their armoured vehicle.
The trio were on a routine patrol of the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province on Tuesday when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.
Mr Salmond said the incident highlighted the danger troops face in Afghanistan.
He said: “This incident demonstrates once again the dangers faced by our armed forces. They deserve our deepest gratitude for the job they do in the most difficult and trying circumstances.
“Rightly, in this chamber, there are often different views on the wisdom of military intervention in a variety of places in the world, but there never has been any division whatsoever in any party in this chamber about the respect in which we hold our armed forces for the sacrifices they make.
“No words, of course, can bring comfort to the families of soldiers at a time like this, but the thoughts and sympathies of everyone in Scotland will be with them.”
Major Tim Petransky, spokesman for the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “Our thoughts are with the families of these brave men.”
Former Stirling university student Robert Hetherington was described as “the best lacrosse player that Scotland has ever developed” by his coach.
Before being deployed to Afghanistan, he had been an active member of the Scottish lacrosse team, captaining it in 2012.
Keith, the development chairman at Lacrosse Scotland, said: “Not only was he a phenomenal athlete, soldier, and friend to all, he also possessed a maturity, wisdom, and leadership ability that were far beyond his 25 years.
“From the very first time Bobby picked up a longstick at the age of 17 at Stirling University, through to him captaining Scotland at the European Championships in 2012, he impressed everyone he encountered with his passion for the sport.”