Operation Astute
The International Stabilization Force (ISF German: International Stabilisation Force ) was a multinational, military intervention force in East Timor under the leadership of Australia. Due to the riots of 2006 in which at least 37 people died and 155,000 people were forced to flee the East Timorese government asked for international assistance to restore order. The first units of the ISF landed on 25 May 2006 at the airport in Dili. The mission ended on 31 December 2012. March 25, 2013, the offices and the warehouse were handed over to East Timor.
Generally
In addition to Australia and New Zealand, and at times even Malaysia and Portugal had sent troops to East Timor. Initially, more than 3,000 soldiers were deployed, but the United Nations after the end of August 2006, an international police mission ( UNMIT ) seconded and the situation calmed down, the number of troops was reduced.
The ISF and UNMIT ensured now common for public order and helped with the reconstruction of the East Timorese security forces. An important task of both was also the assurance of reasonably peaceful conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007. Australia but insisted that the ISF remained under her and not under UN leadership.
Unsuccessful was the attempt of the ISF to catch the fugitive leader of the 2006 rebel soldiers Alfredo Reinado. An access attempt in Same failed despite the use of an Australian special forces and helicopters. Reinado came later in an attack on the governance of East Timor on 11 February 2008 killed. The rebel movement broke then together in the following weeks.
The troops were gradually reduced due to the progress in stabilizing the country, so it was decided to adopt the foreign security forces after the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2012.
Composition of the Force
In February 2008, Australia increased after the attack of 11 February 2008, his troops initially from 800 to 1,000 men. End of October 2008 was the ISF still a total of about 1,000 men. Australia turned soldiers of the ANZAC Battle Group of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment in Townsville. In addition there were units of the Army, logistics, military police and pioneers. In October 2009, the Australian contingent consisted of only 650 men. New Zealand introduced in December 2009, still 155 soldiers. These include the ANZAC Battle Group assumed Infantry Rifle Company and two helicopters from Iroquois with 32 members of No. 3 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
2010, the force was reduced to 400 Australian and New Zealand soldiers 75.