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'International Security Assistance Force (10)' ('ISAF') is the name of a NATO-led security and development mission in Afghanistan, which consists of about 35,500 personnel as of May 31, 2007. Thirty-seven different nations have contributed troops to this military force, including contributions from North America, Europe and Australia.
Authorized by the United Nations Security Council () on December 20, 2001, the ISAF was charged with securing Kabul and the surrounding areas from the Taliban, al Qaida and factional warlords, so as to allow for the establishment of the Afghan Transitional Administration headed by Hamid Karzai. Official Documents System of the United Nations
Throughout the years, ISAF expanded the mission in four main stages over the whole of Afghanistan. Since 2006, ISAF has been involved in more intensive combat operations in southern Afghanistan, a tendency which continues in 2007. And attacks on ISAF in other parts of Afghanistan are also mounting.

Contents

Jurisdiction

Structure

Security and reconstruction

ISAF and the illegal opium economy

Command

Overall Command

Regional Command

Contributing nations

NATO nations

Non-NATO / Non-EAPC nations

Coalition casualties in Afghanistan

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan

Timeline

ISAF Stage 2

ISAF Stage 3

ISAF Stage 4

Further reading

See also

External links

Notes

Jurisdiction

For almost two years, the ISAF mandate did not go beyond the boundaries of Kabul. According to General Norbert Van Heyst, such a deployment would require at least an extra ten thousand soldiers. The responsibility for security throughout the whole of Afghanistan was to be given to the newly-constituted Afghan National Army. However, on October 13, 2003, the Security Council voted unanimously to expand the ISAF mission beyond Kabul (Resolution 1510). Shortly thereafter, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said that Canadian soldiers (nearly half of the entire force at that time) would not deploy outside Kabul.
On October 24, 2003, the German Bundestag voted to send German troops to the region of Kunduz. Around 230 additional soldiers were deployed to that region, marking the first time that ISAF soldiers operated outside of Kabul.
After the Afghan National Assembly and Provincial Council elections in the fall of 2005, the Canadian base Camp Julien at Kabul closed, and remaining Canadian assets have moved to Kandahar as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in preparation for a significant deployment in January 2006.
At July 31, 2006, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force assumed command of the south of the country, ISAF Stage 3, and by October 5 also of the east of Afghanistan, ISAF stage 4.
ISAF is mandated by the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1386, 1413, 1444, 1510, 1563, 1623, 1659 and 1707. The last of these extended the mandate of ISAF to 13 October 2007. But the mandates the different governments are giving to their forces can differ from country to country.

Structure

The initial ISAF headquarters was based on 3rd UK Mechanised Division, which was led at the time by Major General John McCall. Until ISAF expanded beyond Kabul, the Force consisted of a roughly division-level headquarters and one brigade covering this capital, the Kabul Multinational Brigade. The brigade was composed of three battle groups, and was in charge of the tactical command of deployed troops. ISAF headquarters serves as the operational control center of the mission. As the area of responsibility was increased, ISAF also took command of an increasing number of Provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs), with the aim of improving security and to facilitate reconstruction outside the capital. The first nine PRTs (and lead nations) were based at Baghlan (Netherlands, then Hungary at October 2006), Chaghcharan (Lithuania), Farah (U.S.), Fayzabad (Germany), Herat (Italy), Kunduz (Germany), Mazari Sharif (UK, then Denmark/Sweden), Maymana (UK, then Norway), Qala-e Naw (Spain).
Throughout the four different regional stages of ISAF the number of teams began growing. The expansion of ISAF, during October 2006, to all provinces of the country brought the total number of teams to twenty-four (24). The teams are led by different members of the NATO-ISAF mission. Another new PRT at Wardak was installed in November 2006, which is led by Turkey. This brought the number to 25. The overall NATO-ISAF mission is led by the Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, at Brunssum, the Netherlands. NATO OTANAllied Joint Force Command Brunssum - (ISAF)
The main HQ at Afghanistan is located in the capital city of Kabul. There are five (5) Regional Command Centers, underneath them are the Provincial Reconstruction Teams:





★ HQ ISAF at Kabul (Composite)

★ 'Regional Command Capital' (approx. strength: 5,000)

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★ HQ RC(C) Kabul (Turkey)

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★ Kabul International Airport (KAIA) (Norway)

★ 'Regional Command North' (approx. 4,000)

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★ HQ RC(N) Mazari Sharif in Balkh province (Germany)

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★ PRT MAZARI SHARIF in Balkh province (Sweden)

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★ PRT FAYZABAD in Badakhshan province (Germany)

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★ PRT KUNDUZ in Kunduz province (Germany)

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★ PRT PULLI KHUMRI (Hungary)

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★ PRT MAYMANA (Norway)

★ 'Regional Command West' (approx. 2,000)

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★ HQ in Herat, Herat province (Led by Italy)

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★ PRT HERAT in Herat province (Italy)

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★ PRT FARAH in Farah province (USA)

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★ PRT KALA-e-NOE in Badghis province (Spain)

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★ PRT CHAGH-CHARAN in Ghor province (Lithuania)

★ 'Regional Command South' (approx. 9,000)

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★ HQ in Kandahar, Kandahar province (Led by UK)

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★ 4 PRTs in the South

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★ PRT TERRIN KOAT in Uruzgan province (Netherlands and Australia)

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★ PRT LASHKAR GAH in Helmand province (UK, Denmark and Estonia)

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★ PRT KANDAHAR in Kandahar province (Canada)

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★ PRT QALAT in Zabul province (USA and Romania)

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★ Regional Command (South)/Task Force Aegis

★ 'Regional Command East' (approx. 10,500)

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★ HQ in Bagram, Commander is Commander CJTF-76, Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley

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★ Task Force Spartan/rotating U.S. infantry brigade combat team

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★ PRT in Panjshir province (USA)

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★ PRT MIHTARLAM in Laghman province (USA)

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★ PRT in Nuristan province (USA)

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★ PRT ASADABAD in Kunar province (USA)

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★ PRT JALALABAD in Nangarhar province (USA)

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★ PRT GARDEZ in Paktia province (USA)

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★ PRT KHOST in Khost province (USA)

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★ PRT in Wardak province (Turkey)

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★ PRT in Bamian province (USA)

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★ PRT in Ghazni province (Poland)

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★ PRT in Paktika province (Poland)
The strength of the ISAF forces as of May 31, 2007. ISAF source stored on www.archive.org International Security Assistance Force The numbers also reflect the situation in the country. The north and west are relatively calm, while ISAF and Afghan forces in the south and east are almost under daily attack.
See also: ''Provincial Reconstruction Team'' and Afghanistan War order of battle

Security and reconstruction

Since 2006 the insurgency of the Taliban has been intensifying, especially in the south of the country, where the Taliban rose to power in the early nineties.
Since NATO-ISAF took over command of the south on July 31, 2006, British and Canadian ISAF soldiers in the provinces of Helmand and Kandahar have come under almost daily attack. British commanders say the fighting for them is the fiercest since the Korean War, fifty years ago. BBC reporter Alistair Leithead, embedded with the British forces, called it at an article "''Deployed to Afghanistan's hell''" BBC report Deployed to Afghanistan's 'Hell'.
Because of the security situation in the south, NATO-ISAF commanders have asked member countries to send more troops. OnOctober 19, for example, the Dutch government decided to send more troops, because of the many attacks by suspected Taliban on their Task Force Uruzgan, which makes it very difficult to complete the reconstruction work they came to accomplish.

ISAF and the illegal opium economy

ISAF's mandate does not include a pro-active role in fighting the illegal opium economy in Afghanistan. It plays an indirect role in sharing intelligence with the Afghan government, protecting Afghan poppy crop eradication units and helping coordinate and implement the country's counter narcotics policy. Dutch ISAF forces have, for example, used military force to protect eradication units that came under attack. The indirect role ISAF plays in helping the Afghan counter narcotic forces is problematic for NATO. Crop eradication often targets the poorest farmers who have no economic alternatives to fall back on. Without alternatives, these farmers can no longer feed their families, causing anger, frustration and social protest. Thus, being associated with counter productive drug policy, the ISAF soldiers on the ground find it hard to win the hearts and minds of the local population. A Washington Quarterly article written by Peter van Ham and Jorrit Kamminga explains the dynamics that are at play. The Washington QuarterlyPoppies for Peace: Reforming Afganistans Opium Industry.

Command

Overall Command

ISAF command rotated among different nations on a 6-month basis. However there was tremendous difficulty securing new lead nations. To solve the problem, command was turned over indefinitely to NATO on August 11, 2003. This marked NATO's first deployment outside Europe or North America. That day, Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to NATO wrote in the Wall Street Journal that the mandate of ISAF should be expanded beyond the capital Kabul. One option he suggested would be for NATO to participate in U.S.-led "Provincial Reconstruction Teams" which were already active in trying to enforce security outside Kabul.
As of April 2007, 25 Provincial Reconstruction Teams are active in the country and under the command of different NATO nations.
The history of ISAF command is as follows:

★ December 2001: Major General John McColl, United Kingdom.

★ June 2002: Major General Hilmi Akin Zorlu, Turkey. During this period, Turkish troops increased from about 100 to 1,300.

★ February 10, 2003: Lieutenant General Norbert Van Heyst, on behalf of Germany and the Netherlands. His Deputy was Brigadier General Bertholee of Netherlands.

★ August 11, 2003: The first ISAF-mission under the command of NATO, led by NATO Lieutenant General Goetz Gliemeroth, Germany, with Canadian Army Major General Andrew Leslie as his deputy. Canada had been originally slated to take over command of ISAF on August 11.

★ February 9, 2004: Lieutenant General Rick Hillier, Canada, with Major General Werner Korte of Germany as deputy. During this timeframe, Canada was the largest contributor to the ISAF force, contributing 2,000 troops.

★ August 7 2004: General Jean-Louis Py, commander of Eurocorps, a multinational rapid reaction force composed by units from France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Luxemburg. Canada reduces its forces to about 800 men.

★ February 2005: General Ethem Erdagi, Turkey

★ August 5 2005: Italian general Mauro del Vecchio assumed command of the ISAF force in Afghanistan. During 2005 Italy commanded four multinational military operations: in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania.

★ May 4 2006: United Kingdom Lieutenant General David Richards assumed command of the ISAF IX force in Afghanistan. The mission is led by the Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

★ February 4, 2007: American four-star general, Army Gen. Dan K. McNeill, took charge of NATO forces.

Regional Command

South
The command of the region is rotating among Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom

★ February 28, 2006: Canadian Brigadier-General David Fraser assumed Command of Regional Command South.

★ November 1, 2006: Dutch Major-General Ton van Loon lead Regional Command South in Afghanistan for a six months period. [1]

★ May 1, 2007: British General Jacko Page

Contributing nations

All of NATO members are contributing troops to the ISAF, as well as some other partner states of NATO. The numbers are based in part from the NATO; when more recent numbers are available they are given.
ISAF is also being backed by 28,600 troops of the Afghan National Army and 30,200 Afghan policemen, who are described by the British Ministry of Defence as "fully equipped and trained".

NATO nations

★ – 311 (August 2007). The mission is named BELU ISAF 13. The main task is to secure the Kabul Airport. The detachment at Kunduz is assisting in the north the PRTs of Kunduz and Mazar-i Sharif. Belgium will send an extra 50 troops to reinforce it's security detail at Kabul Airport.

★ – 100. In 2007 Bulgaria will send 200 more soldiers.

ISAF soldier from Canada helping Afghan child.

★ – 2,500 in Kandahar. Canada is one of the few countries to allow its troops to actively engage the Taliban in the dangerous South and has suffered a high proportion of the allied casualties. Sixty-nine Canadian soldiers have been killed in action along with a diplomat from Foreign Affairs Canada.
:See main article ''Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan''.

★ – 150, in two Czech operations. At Kabul International Airport a Czech ACR contingent is deployed. The task of the ACR contingent is EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). Keeping minefield awareness and anti-explosives protection of the KAIA International Airport in Kabul, and, second, the contribution of the Czech personnel to air traffic weather service. The number of Czech military personnel on this operation is 17 (to 1 June 2006).
:The Czech 102nd Reconnaissance Battalion have been part of a provincial reconstruction team at Fayzabad, Badakhshan province, since 9 March 2005. Their task is to support security in the area, to protect international units, and to cooperate with local people in reconstruction of their homeland. Czech scouts are assigned to the team of about 200 soldiers together with Danes and soldiers of the German Bundeswehr. The number of Czech military personnel on this operation is 83 (to 1 June 2006). NATO Operation in Afghanistan Ministry of Defence - Czech Republic
:The number of troops is expected to rise to 150 by the end of the year when the Czechs take command of Kabul's airport. At the end of September 2006, the Czech Republic's defence ministry said, it plans to contribute up to 190 troops to the force next year. The move still must be approved by the government and parliament. Canadian soldier dies in Afghan blast Afghan News Network - 30 September 2006 At the start of the Czech contribution 17.

★ – 400. Three were killed in an ordnance disposal explosion along with two Germans. One soldier was killed while fighting the Taliban during Operation Achilles. A few Danish soldiers are attached to the German-led PRT at Fayzabad (Badakhshan), the Lithuanian led PRT at Chaghcharan, around 50 are serving at Kandahar Airfield and around 400 are attached to the British-led operations in Helmand at Camp Bastion. Denmark plans to increase its presence in the Helmand Province to 600 troops. The Danish troops are involved in some of the worst fighting their army has seen since Second War of Schleswig

★ – 130 (November 2006). The Estonian Defence Forces units are located primarily in the southern province of Helmand, together with armed forces of the United Kingdom and Denmark. By the end of 2006, Estonia plans to increase its presence in Afghanistan to 120 troops Estonia’s contribution to rebuilding Afghanistan Estonia in NATO.

French deminers in Afghanistan.

Demining operations are delicate, but sometimes robots may be used.

★ – 1,000 (September 2006). Once the fourth largest ISAF contingent. The current French Army detachment in Kabul, known as Pamir XIV, is on a five-month deployment that officially began August 6 2006. Nine French soldiers have been killed as part of ISAF and OEF: 2 in a vehicle accident, and 7 in various ambushes and gunbattles.

★ – 3,550, making Germany the third largest troop contributor to ISAF. Germany is leading Regional Command North from Mazari Sharif. The task of the German ISAF contribution is to assist the Afghan central government at the four northern provinces of Kunduz, Takhar, Baghlan and Badakhshan. Germany is leading the Provincial Reconstruction Teams at Kunduz and Feyzabad.
:A support airbase is operated in Uzbekistan for supply and staging purposes. Additionally, in April 2007, six Panavia Tornado reconnaissance jets, with additional personnel, were deployed to Mazari Sharif in support of ISAF combat operations in the entiry country. GAF Recce Tornados to Afghanistan Luftwaffe (German airforce)
:The mandate, given by the German Parliament, does not allow the Bundeswehr to take part in the battle against the Taliban insurgency in the south and east of Afghanistan other than in exceptional circumstances. 21 German soldiers have been killed so far: Eleven in Ambushes and Attacks, two in an hostile incident still part of parliamentary investigations, and eight in accidents. 52 soldiers of the German contingent have suffered injuries as a result of hostile actions.

★ – 170, some stationed at Kabul airport and others at hospitals. There are around 130 soldiers and 45 air force personnel. At least two were wounded in a suicide attack in November 2005.

★ – 180. On 1 October 2006, Hungary took over responsibility, from the Dutch, for the Provincial Reconstruction Team at the town Pul-e Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province.

★ – 9. Consisting of a Mobile/Military Observation Team and various personnel operating at Kabul International Airport.

★ – 1,950. In February 2007, there were 1,950 Italian soldiers in Afghanistan. Nine have died under ISAF: three in vehicle accidents, one in an accidental civilian plane crash, one due to a heart attack and four in two roadside bombings.
:The mandate, given by the Italian Parliament, does not allow the troops to take part in the battle against the Taliban insurgency in the south and east of Afghanistan other than in exceptional circumstances.

★ – 35.

★ – 130. In June 2005, ISAF established in Chaghcharan, the capital of Ghor province, a Lithuanian Provincial Reconstruction Team in which Danish, US and Icelandic troops also serve MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE - MILITARY OF LITHUANIA. Lithuanian special forces were sent south to help the British forces in their spring offensive.

★ – 10. Luxembourg is working together with Belgium in BELU ISAF 13. The Luxembourgian team is integrated in a Belgian platoon (2 NCO's and 7 soldiers) and provides 1 officer to the staff of the Force Protection group at KAIA.

Dutch army Pzh-2000 firing on Taliban in Chura. June 16, 2007.

★ – 2,200. The main Task Force Uruzgan consists of 300 troops in Deh Rahwod and 1,100 troops in Tarin Kowt, at Kamp Holland (both in Uruzgan province).
:The Air Task Force consists of a AH-64 Apache detachment (6 helicopters) in Tarin Kowt and a Chinook and F-16 detachment (6 jets) at Kandahar Airfield. The staff for Regional Command South is also located in Kandahar. An unknown number of Dutch SOF operate in southern Afghanistan as well. The Netherlands has lost 10 soldiers in Afghanistan; 2 in a helicopter crash, 1 in an F-16 crash and 1 soldier committed suicide (all in 2006). In 2007 a sergeant died in a Patria armored vehicle accident and on April 20th, a corporal was killed by an explosion in the Helmand province during Operation Achilles. In 2006, the Dutch PzH 2000 howitzer made its combat debut as artillery fire support www.kmweg.com. In June 2007, a Dutch soldier was killed by a suicide bomber, which also wounded two more soldiers; Afghan casualties included five dead children. Suicide bomb kills Afghan children, Dutch soldier REUTERS - Jun 15, 2007

★ – 549 Norske styrker i utlandet Forsvarsnett August 31, 2007 (Norwegian) - The Norwegian ISAF forces operate out of Kabul, Meymaneh and Mazar-e-Sharif.
:One Norwegian soldier was killed and another lightly wounded in a rocket propelled grenade attack on a convoy of four Norwegian Mercedes Geländewagen MB-290s 23 May 2004 while returning from a mission in the capital Kabul . Several others were wounded in hostile and non-hostile acts spanning 2001-2007 (ISAF and OEF). Four Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s operate from Kabul airport alongside Dutch F-16s in support of NATO ISAF forces in southern Afghanistan, 2006. The detachment is known as the 1st Netherlands-Norwegian European Participating Forces Expeditionary Air Wing (1 NLD/NOR EEAW) . On 23 July, 2007 Norwegian special forces lieutenant Tor Arne Lau-Henriksen was killed in a close quarters engagement between a Norwegian special forces reconnaissance patrol and hostile fighters in Lowgar Province. aftenposten (Nowegian) aftenposten (Nowegian)

★ – 1,200.

★ – 150 - making the Kabul Multi-National Brigade QRF, station in Camp Warehouse in Kabul.
:One elite infantry company from the Portuguese army Rapid Reaction Brigade, a 7-man TACP from the Portuguese Air Force and a platoon size regular army logistic support unit, rotates every 6 months.
:August 2005 to February 2006: 2nd Commando Company.
:February 2006 to August 2006: 1st Commando Company.
:August 2006 to February 2007: 1st Paratrooper Company.
:February 2007 to August 2007: 2nd Commando Company.
:August 2007 to February 2008: 2nd Paratrooper Company.
:One commando was killed when his Humvee was struck by an IED during a patrol in the first tour of the 2nd Commando company.
: The 1st Paratrooper Company was sent to Kandahar to reinforce the Kandahar Airfield security.
:The 2nd Commando Company, in their second tour, were in charge of search and destroy operations, together with other forces, in the Kandahar Province as of May 2007 in operation Hoover.
:Past deployments.
:The Portuguese Air Force had one C-130H in Afghanistan from July 2004 until July 2005.
:Portugal was responsible for the Kabul International Airport from August 2005 until December 2005, the group was made of 37 military personnel, 33 from the Air Force, 3 from the Army and one from the Navy.

Romanian soldiers in southern Afghanistan.

★ –750 - 1 battalion in Zabul (479 personnel), 1 guard detachment in Kandahar (193 personnel), a reconnaissance squad in Mazari Sharif (6 personnel); additionally, a special forces squad (39 personnel) and a training detachment (47 personnel) are deployed.
:Four Romanians have been killed while operating with ISAF: One in a firefight which later claimed the life of another badly wounded soldier, one in a landmine explosion, and one in a roadside bombing which severely damaged a Romanian tank. Romania planned to send a battalion in October 2006.

★ – 60. Multifunctional engineer company located in Kabul International Airport. Responsible for demining, building and repairing the airport.

★ – 65.

Spanish soldiers at an airbase in Afghanistan.

★ – Approximately 650. Eighteen died in a helicopter crash in August 2005, while 62 Spanish soldiers were killed in May 2003 when their plane crashed in Turkey as it was returning home. Two soldiers were killed in two different bombings.

★ – 1,200(April, 2007; 1.200). Once the third largest contingent. The only Muslim country in the ISAF. Turkey's responsibilities include providing security for Kabul and western regions of the country, as well as providing reconstruction teams. Turkey is leading the PRT Wardak.

★ – 6,700. On February 26, 2007 UK's defence secretary authorised the deployment of an additional 1,400 troops which will bring British troop levels in Afghanistan to around 7,700 until 2009. Britain to send 1,400 extra troops to Afghanistan, defense secretary says International Herald Tribune - February 26, 2007

British patrol in Helmand province.

:The UK was one of the first countries to join the US-led coalition into Afghanistan. As of August 2007, the number of UK troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001 was 73. (Including 22 in accidents, from illness, or by non-combat injuries.) British military fatalities in Afghanistan BBC - 5 September 2007
:The RAF has numerous planes and helicopters positioned in the country, including C130 cargo planes, CH-47 heavy lift helicopters, Nimrod surveillance planes as well as a squadron of Harrier GR9 attack planes. The army air corps also provides a number of Westland Lynx and WAH-64 Apache helicopters.
:They are officially there to help train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction, and provide security. But over 2006, the situation in the north of Helmand turned increasingly violent, with British troops involved in fierce firefights against the Taliban and anti-coalition militia.
:British troops have been involved in heavy clashes in the towns of Sangin, Musa Qala, Kajaki and Nawzad.

US soldiers provide security during a meeting with the district governor in Sabari, Afghanistan, March 6, 2007.

:The article ''Q&A: UK troops in Afghanistan'' (BBC News) gives also a list of the British units which are taking part in the ISAF mission. Q&A: UK troops in Afghanistan BBC - 26 February 2007. According to this article, ISAF is also being backed by 28,600 troops of the Afghan National Army and 30,200 Afghan policemen, who are described by the British Ministry of Defence as "fully equipped and trained".

★ – 17,000 US Troops came under the command of NATO-ISAF on October 5 2006.
:8,000 more troops remain under US command to train the Afghan National Army and to hunt Taliban leaders and Al-Qaida members.
===Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) nations===

★ – 30.

★ – 2. (In Kabul. Increased to 4 (September, 2006). www.bmlv.gv.at All missions from Austrian troops (German))

★ – 20.

★ – 180. (will send 120 more by 2008)

★ – 100.

★ – 151.

★ – 5.

★ – 350. (Sweden leads the PRT at Mazari Sharif.)

★ – 2.

Non-NATO / Non-EAPC nations

★ – 500. One SAS soldier has been killed in a landmine explosion in 2002. The core of the Australian troops are based at Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan, at Kamp Holland, with 360 personnel, together with the main Dutch contribution to ISAF. Australia is currently the largest non-NATO contributor of troops to the ISAF.
At April 2007, Australia had some 550 soldiers in Afghanistan. Prime Minister John Howard said Australia plans to double its troop numbers. The total Australian deployment in Afghanistan will reach approximately 950 by mid-2007.Australia to double Afghan force BBC - 10 April 2007

★ – 7. Around 50 Special Air Service troops were sent to southern Afghanistan during 2-3 deployments. Two were wounded.

Coalition casualties in Afghanistan

Main articles: Coalition casualties in Afghanistan

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan

Main articles: Civilian casualties of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan
. Includes also the civilian casualties since the arrival of NATO/ISAF.

Timeline

★ Authorized by the United Nations Security Council (Resolution 1386) on December 20, 2001, eighteen countries were contributing to the force, which was expecting to grow to 5,000 soldiers ISAF in Afghanistan CDI,Terrorism Project - Feb. 14, 2002.

★ In February 2002 South Korea sent a medical contingent of 99 soldiers.

★ Between February and July 2002, Portugal sent a sanitary team and an air team to ISAF.

★ In November, 2002 ISAF, consisting of 4,650 troops from over 20 countries, was led by Turkey. Around 1,200 German troops were serving in the force alongside 250 Dutch soldiers operating as part of a German-led battalion.

★ In March, 2003 ISAF was comprised of 4,700 troops from 28 countries.

★ On June 7, 2003 in Kabul, a taxi packed with explosives rammed a bus carrying German ISAF personnel, killing four soldiers and wounding 29 others; one Afghan bystander was killed and 10 Afghan bystanders were wounded. The 33 German soldiers, after months on duty in Kabul, were en route to the Kabul International Airport for their flight home to Germany. At the time, Germans soldiers made up more than 40% of ISAF.

★ A study by Care International in the summer of 2003 reported that Kosovo had one peacekeeper to 48 people, East Timor one for every 86, while Afghanistan has just one for every 5,380 people.

★ August, 2003, NATO is taking command and co-ordination of ISAF. ISAF consisted of 5,000 troops from more than 30 countries. About 90% of the force were contributed by NATO nations. 1,950 were Canadian, by far the largest single contingent. However, other reports suggested that about 2,000 German troops were involved. Romania had about 400 troops at the time.

★ 13 October 2003: Resolution 1510 passed by the UNSC opened the way to a wider role for ISAF to support the Government of Afghanistan beyond Kabul.

★ As late as November, 2003, the entire ISAF force had three helicopters.

★ In May 2004, Turkey sent three helicopters and 56 flight and maintenance personnel to work in ISAF.

★ In July 2004, Portugal sent 24 soldiers and one C-130 Hercules cargo plane to assist ISAF.

★ In August 2004, Britain announced that 6 Royal Air Force Harrier GR7 jets from No. 3 Squadron would deploy to Afghanistan, marking the first time RAF fighter jets have been deployed to the country. They fully arrived in September.

★ In September 2004, a Spanish battalion (about 800 men) arrived to provide the ISAF Quick Reaction Force, and an Italian battalion (up to 1,000 troops) arrived to provide the in-theatre Operational Reserve Force. With a force of 100, Georgia became the first Commonwealth of Independent States country to send an operational force to Afghanistan.

★ Stage 1 (North) was completed at October 2004 under the Regional Command of Germany.

ISAF Stage 2

★ In May 2005 ISAF Stage 2 took place, doubling the size of the territory ISAF was responsible for. The new area was the former US Regional Command West consisting of Badghis, Farah, Ghor, and Herat Provinces.

★ September 2005: ISAF Stage 2 was completed under the Regional Command of Italy.

★ On January 27 2006, it was announced in the British Parliament that the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) would be replacing the U.S troops in Helmand province as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The British 16th Air Assault Brigade would be the core of the force in Helmand Province.

★ In February 2006, the Netherlands decided to expand the troop contribution with an extra 1,400 soldiers More Dutch troops for Afghanistan BBC - 3 February 2006.

★ On May 22, 2006, A British Army WAH-64 Apache gunship fired a hellfire missile to destroy a French armoured jeep that had been disabled during a firefight with Taliban forces in North Helmand province the previous day, as it was decided that attempting to recover the vehicle would have been too dangerous. This is the first time UK Apaches have opened fire in a hostile theatre and this would be, in a fashion, the WAH-64's first "combat kill".

ISAF Stage 3

★ 31 July 2006, Stage 3 was completed: The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force also assumed command in six provinces of the south. Led by Canada, 8,000 soldiers are now positioned there. The Regional Command Centre is at Kandahar.

★ With the Taliban regrouping, especially in its birthplace of Kandahar province bordering Pakistan, NATO launched its biggest offensive against the guerrillas at the weekend of September 2 and September 3 2006 (Operation Medusa). NATO says it has killed more than 250 Taliban fighters, but the Taliban says NATO casualty estimates are exaggerated.

★ On September 7 2006, a British soldier was killed and six wounded when their patrol strayed into an unmarked minefield in Helmand, the major drug-growing province west of Kandahar.

★ On 28 September 2006, the North Atlantic Council gave final authorisation for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (NATO-ISAF) to expand its area of operations to 14 additional provinces in the east of Afghanistan, boosting NATO’s presence and role in the country. With this further expansion, NATO-ISAF will assist the Government of Afghanistan in providing security throughout the whole of the country. International Security Assistance Force.
The expansion will see the NATO-ISAF controlling 32,000 troops from 37 countries, although the alliance is already struggling to find extra troops to hold off a spiralling Taliban-led insurgency in the volatile south.

ISAF Stage 4

★ 5 October 2006: NATO has also taken charge of Afghanistan's eastern provinces (NATO-ISAF stage 4), which have been under the control of US forces since the Taliban were ousted five years ago. (10,000 coalition troops more moved under NATO command. 31,000 ISAF troops are now in Afghanistan. 8,000 US troops continue training and counter-terrorism separately).

★ 21 October: The Canadian government is growing increasingly frustrated over the unwillingness of mainly European NATO members to deploy troops to help fight mounting Taliban resistance in the south.

★ November: A study by the Joint Co-ordinating and Monitoring Board, made up of the Afghan government, its key foreign backers and the UN, suggests that more than 3,700 people have died so far in 2006. The majority of the dead appear to be insurgents, but it is estimated that 1,000 civilians have also been killed this year, along with members of the Afghan National Army, the NATO-led international security assistance force, and a separate US contingent of soldiers. Afghan conflict deaths quadruple BBC - Monday, 13 November 2006

★ 28-29 November 2006: NATO summit at Riga (Latvia). Combat curbs have been the most contentious issue at the two-day summit in Latvia, following tension over the reluctance of France, Germany, Spain and Italy to send their troops to southern Afghanistan. Countries agreeing to ease the restrictions on deployment against the Taliban insurgency include the Dutch, Romanians and smaller nations such as Slovenia and Luxembourg. France, Germany, Spain and Italy have said they will now send help to trouble zones outside their areas, but only in emergencies. Next to this the summit saw several countries offer additional troops and training teams. France agreed to send more helicopters and aircraft. NATO commanders say they believe they can move an extra 2,500 troops around the country now some smaller members have relaxed their mission conditions. Nato hails shift on Afghan combat BBC - 29 November 2006

★ Friday 15 December: ISAF is starting a new offensive, Operation Baaz Tsuka (Falcon's Summit), against the Taliban at the Panjaway Valley at the province Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.

★ Sunday 4 February: US General Dan McNeill replaced British General David Richards as commander of the NATO forces in Afghanistan. McNeill, one of 11 U.S. four-star generals, commanded U.S. troops here in 2002. He is expected to place a heavier emphasis on fighting than peace deals, analysts say. U.S. general in Afghanistan seen tough on Taliban REUTERS - Feb 5, 2007 Meanwhile observers and commanders are expecting a new Taliban "spring offensive", and NATO commanders are asking for more troops.

★ Tuesday 6 March: NATO-ISAF launched Operation Achilles, an offensive to bring security to northern Helmand and set the conditions for meaningful development that will fundamentally improve the quality of life for Afghans in the area. The operation will eventually involve more than 4,500 Nato troops and nearly 1,000 Afghan soldiers in Helmand province, according to the alliance.
It focuses on improving security in areas where Taliban extremists, narco-traffickers and other elements are trying to de-stabilize the Government of Afghanistan and to intend to empower village elders.
The overarching purpose is to assist the government to improve its ability to begin reconstruction and economic development in the area. Strategically, the goal is also to enable the government to begin the Kajaki hydro-energy project. ISAF and Afghan Forces launch major operation in the South NATO Press release - 6 March, 2007Nato in major anti-Taleban drive BBC - 6 March 2007

Further reading

★ Sean M. Maloney, ''Enduring The Freedom: A Rogue Historian In Afghanistan.''(Dulles: Potomac Books, Incorporated, 2005)

See also

★ Provincial Reconstruction Team

★ War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

★ Military of Afghanistan

★ Afghanistan War order of battle

★ UNAMA

★ Taliban insurgency

★ Britain's role in the 2001-present Afghan war

★ Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan

★ Coalition casualties in Afghanistan

★ Civilian casualties of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan

★ British forces casualties in Afghanistan since 2001

★ Canadian Forces casualties in Afghanistan

★ German Armed Forces casualties in Afghanistan

★ Camp Warehouse

★ Combined Joint Task Force 76

★ Operation Enduring Freedom

★ Operation Herrick

★ Operation Medusa

★ Operation Mountain Fury

★ Civilian casualties of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan

External links

★ Official ISAF Site

★ ISAF's voice toward the Afghan people (English and Dari)

★ Articles on NATO - ISAF mission

★ Details of ISAF and PRT deployments in Afghanistan - 2006

★ Video of British ISAF Patrol in Action

★ Official site of the Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, Netherlands

★ Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan

★ UK Defence News, operations in Afghanistan

★ Peace Operations Monitor- Afghanistan

★ BELU ISAF 12, the official ISAF site of Belgium and Luxemburg and

★ The ISAF-site of the Czech Ministry of Defence

★ Official ISAF Site of German Bundeswehr

★ Official Norwegian Defence Force Afghanistan Deployment Site

★ Norwegian ISAF Photos 2004-2005

★ Dutch ISAF-pictures; website Dutch MoD

★ [2]

★ List with Canadian casualties in OEF and ISAF, provided by CBC

★ News of Canadian Forces in Kandahar, via MILNEWS.ca

★ British military fatalities in Afghanistan, in OEF and ISAF, given by BBC News

★ CNN list of casualties during Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF

★ Infos about Commanders of other nations and APO's at ISAF

Notes