The Dutch contribution to Implementation Force (IFOR), Stabilization Force (SFOR) and European Force (EUFOR)

From that time, Mechbat operated as a logistically self-sufficient unit (approximately 1.050 personnel; the number dropped to some 550 in the period 2001-2004). In 2000, the logistic component was incorporated in a national support element. The battalion formed 3 mixed teams on the basis of:

• 2 armoured infantry companies;
• a tank squadron;
• antitank sections;
• and engineer sections.

The battalion’s main force arrived in Central Bosnia in the 1st week of January 1996. Mechbat was put in charge of a battalion sector in the British MND Southwest. The battalion commander set up his command post high on the Vlasic massif in Sisava. The teams were divided between Jajce, Knezevo and Novi Travnik. Besides the battalion, the Netherlands supplied a variety of units, such as:

• a mortar battery;
• a mortar-locating radar battery;
• frigates;
• special forces;
• helicopters;
• an electronic warfare company;
• signal units;
• and staff officers. 

Mechbat monitored observance of the Dayton agreement by means of patrols and by setting up fixed or mobile checkpoints, which were designed to monitor the retreat of all former warring parties’ military personnel and their weapons from the Zone of Separation. The Dutch battalion was also responsible for marking and clearing mines and for maintaining contact with the local military and civil authorities. Broadly speaking, the implementation of the military component of the agreement proceeded favourably. Only the cantonment of the troops and heavy weapons proceeded less favourably at first.

Less military in nature

IFOR’s tasks, and later those of SFOR, gradually started to shift more and more from military ones to those with a more civil character. Mechbat became increasingly involved in ensuring the free movement of people, the return of the refugees, tracking down war criminals and providing security and other support for the civil organisations such as the United Nations International Police Task Force (UNIPTF), the International Tribunal and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Operational activities

The changing tasks were of course also reflected in Mechbat’s operational activities. The permanent and semi-permanent checkpoints, specially set up to monitor the withdrawal and cantonment, were gradually closed down. Elsewhere in the Dutch battalion sector, permanent platoon bases were set up to serve as operating bases for social patrols. The 2nd half of 1996 was mainly focused on the national elections.

Changes in the battalion sector

The Dutch battalion sector underwent major changes when IFOR was replaced by SFOR in December 1996. The battalion maintained its teams in Novi Travnik and Knezevo, but pulled out of Jajce and the surrounding area. In 1997, the former warring parties continued to comply fully with the military stipulations of the Dayton agreement Mechbat had enough on its hands, however, supporting the civil measures of the peace agreement.

Supporting civil organisations

One of the most difficult tasks for the Dutch SFOR battalions was assisting the civil organisations which were supervising the return of refugees and displaced persons to areas with a hostile population. Officially, the return of refugees was a task for the local police and the UNIPTF. The unarmed UNIPTF personnel were not, however, in a position to check any serious public order disturbances, but the deployment of the heavily armed SFOR in these situations was often seen as too heavy-handed. The Ministry of Defence decided, therefore, to reinforce the battalion with a crowd & riot control unit.

Improved effectiveness

SFOR's effectiveness and flexibility were improved in a number of ways over the years. As part of these improvements, the SFOR commander decided in the middle of 1998 to set up the multinational specialised unit (MSU). This 350-strong unit supplemented the unarmed UNIPTF personnel and the more traditional, riot-squad style crowd & riot control units of the battle groups.

Patrols and targeted operations

The MSU's task was to help prevent tensions arising in so-called hotspots by means of intensive patrols and targeted preventive operations. The unit also made frequent appearances in the Dutch battalion sector, where the Vitez pocket in particular was a major hotspot. The commander of MND Southwest, in his turn, felt that it would be a good idea to deploy elements of the battle groups outside their own area of responsibility by means of what were known as surge operations. The division commander would thus be able to concentrate forces where they were needed, despite the fall in the total number of military personnel within the division.

Greater role for the Netherlands

The Dutch government agreed, as did Canada, to take on a much greater role within this division. From July 2000, the Netherlands provided not only the mechanised battalion but also a signal unit and extra personnel for the multinational division headquarters (Dutch Major General J.A. van Diepenbrugge was the division commander from September 2001 to September 2002).

Area of operations

Mechbat had handed over the Bosnian-Serb part of the battalion sector to a British unit a few months earlier. The Dutch team then moved from Knezevo to the new Dutch compound in Bugojno. The Dutch area of operations was expanded to the west with the addition of the municipalities of Jajce, Donji Vakuf, Bugojno and Gornji Vakuf. The Dutch battalion’s area of operations was changed for the last time on 15 August 2002.

Larger area of responsibility

The reduction of SFOR’s operational strength resulted in the addition of Canton 10, which contained towns including Livno and Tomislavgrad, to the Dutch area of responsibility. Mechbat maintained its teams in Novi Travnik and Bugojno, as well as the platoon house in Jajce. A forward operating base (FOB), manned by a platoon-sized unit, was also established in Suica on 2 August 2002.

Criminal networks

Mechbat found that criminal networks were posing a major threat to stability in the area, as they undermined the government and represented a potential source of income for individuals opposed to the Dayton agreement.

Operation Mooirivier

As well as trafficking in women, one of the main sources of income for criminals in Bosnia was illegal logging. In October 2003, therefore, Mechbat launched Operation Mooirivier with a view to finding evidence of the illegal logging. The success of Operation Mooirivier prompted MNB Northwest to decide in January 2004 to use the available information to support the local authorities in their efforts to stop the illegal practices.

Military aspects

The increasing focus on the civil aspects of the Dayton agreement did not mean, however, that the military aspects were neglected. The reduction and integration of the armies of the Bosnian Serbs and the Muslim-Croat Federation were still high on the agenda. Wherever the troop ceiling was successfully lowered, it was precisely there that the actual integration was difficult.

Bosnian Croats

In 2001, SFOR thus took account of the real possibility that the Bosnian Croats would go their own way and so doing would form a 3rd entity. In March 2001, SFOR dismissed several Bosnian Croat generals who had shown disloyalty towards the federal government. SFOR’s main concern was to prevent the Bosnian Croats from taking up arms, even more so because the security guards of the weapons depots were staying at home in protest against the dismissals.

Weapons depots

SFOR took on the task of guarding most of the Bosnian Croat depots and took the opportunity to reduce the number of depots. The cantonment of the former warring parties’ weaponry also had a civil variant from March 1998, known as Operation Harvest. With clockwork regularity, Mechbat conducted collection operations among the civilian population.

New concept of operations

Halfway through 2003, the SFOR headquarters decided to switch to a new concept of operations. SFOR would no longer be a pure-blooded stabilisation force, but would set up part of its organisation as an observer mission. MNB Northwest (known as MND Southwest until 1 January 2003) was reorganised to form the Multinational Task Force Northwest (MNTF Northwest). The 3 battalions were withdrawn and replaced by one UK-led battalion (Multinational Battle Group: MNBG), in which one of the 3 companies was Dutch.

Amongst the population

An important component of the MNTF Northwest were the Liaison and Observation Teams (LOTs), which, living amongst the population, gathered information about the security situation in the mission area in order to build a picture of the social, political, economic, military and security structures. The Netherlands provided around 70 of the 160 military personnel of the LOT organisation in MNTF Northwest. SFOR transferred the assigned tasks to the European Union-led force, EUFOR, on 2 December 2004.

EUFOR

On 1 October 2004, the cabinet approved the participation of a maximum of 530 military personnel in EUFOR, and the Ministry of Defence supplied an infantry company, a significant part of the LOT organisation, a support company, a medical detachment (7 personnel) and an intelligence detachment. As usual, personnel were also provided for EUFOR’s headquarters and for the headquarters of MNTF Northwest. The Netherlands supplied MNTF Northwest with both the deputy task force commander and the head of the LOT organisation.