Dutch contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

Dutch deployment

For Operation Enduring Freedom, the Dutch government made naval and aerial assets available to British troops stationed in Oman. In addition, a medical detachment was deployed from 1 May to 30 July 2002. A special forces group deployed to southern Afghanistan in April 2005.

Maritime support

2 frigates headed for the waters around the Arabian Peninsula at the beginning of 2002. Their crews were tasked with identifying and reporting any relocation of terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan and arms transports. In addition, the crews were to perform escort and security tasks.

The Netherlands withdrew a frigate in June 2002 and ended its maritime participation in Operation Enduring Freedom a year later. A Dutch frigate was back in the region in October 2004. From November 2005, a submarine, a supply ship and a frigate formed part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Aerial assets

In addition to maritime assets, the Netherlands made aircraft available for Operation Enduring Freedom. A KDC-10, for example, served as a tanker aircraft as part of the US 379th Air Expeditionary Wing from 3 April to 26 June 2002. The aircraft operated from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. From October 2002, the KDC-10 was stationed in Kyrgyzstan because of a shortage of tanker aircraft in that country. Aerial refuelling capability was required for the deployment of the combat aircraft of the European Participating Air Forces (EPAF).

A P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft was stationed at Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates from 29 June 2002. The aircraft took to the air primarily at night to support the maritime operations. The Dutch detachment cooperated closely with the Canadian detachment that was also stationed at the air base.

The US received permission from the Dutch government to also deploy the Orion over Afghanistan from 23 December 2002. This deployment was necessary because only the Dutch and US aircraft were equipped with an infrared detection system that made it possible to collect high-quality visual material from high altitudes. The Orion completed its last operational flight on 23 June 2003 and subsequently returned to the Netherlands.

C-130 and F-16s

In the middle of April 2002, the Dutch government stationed a C-130H-30 Hercules at Manas Air Base near Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). Together with a Norwegian and Danish EPAF detachment, the aircraft provided part of the tactical air transport for Operation Enduring Freedom. In this context, the Hercules travelled to air bases in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. The aircraft returned to the Netherlands on 30 September 2002.

Shortly thereafter, the Netherlands deployed 6 F-16s and a KDC-10 (along with 169 service members). Because of the forthcoming deployment of Dutch ground troops in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the government decided to use the fighter aircraft for reconnaissance missions and support roles. Following the deployment referred to, the aircraft were allowed to participate in combat operations in the context of Operation Enduring Freedom, something that the Dutch government had prohibited until that time.

In the 4th quarter of 2002 and the 3rd quarter of 2003, the commander of the Dutch F-16s was also EPAF commander. The KDC-10’s tanker operations from Manas ended on 1 April 2003. The Dutch government decided to reduce the number of F-16s by 2 and withdraw the detachment on 1 October 2003.

Special forces

On 25 February 2005, the Dutch government decided to make special forces and 4 CH‑47 Chinook transport helicopters (with 250 service members) available for Operation Enduring Freedom. The core of the task force consisted of members of the Commando Corps. There were also special forces teams of the Netherlands Marine Corps.

The task force was given its own area of responsibility in the districts of Shorabak and Registan in the province of Kandahar in the southern part of Afghanistan. The task force’s duties included carrying out reconnaissance missions and gathering intelligence. Its members could also engage in combat. The government had informed the Dutch House of Representatives that armed hostilities could occur between members of the special forces and Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Hezb-i-Islami fighters. The special forces units were authorised to use force in such situations. The task force was deployed until April 2006.