TheInternational Stabilization Force[1] orOperation Astute was anAustralian-led military deployment toEast Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the2006 East Timor crisis. It was headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of BrigadierMichael Slater. The operation was established at the request of East Timor's government, and continued under an understanding reached between Australia, East Timor, and the United Nations, with theUnited Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor supporting and helping to develop East Timor's police force. Other countries deploying soldiers to East Timor includeMalaysia,New Zealand and East Timor's formercolonial powerPortugal, operating under independent command.
Initial assets deployed included the guided-missile frigateHMASAdelaide, the replenishment vesselHMASSuccess and the amphibious landing/hospital shipHMASKanimbla. Landing shipsHMASTobruk andHMASManoora were also sent to East Timor with follow-on forces.[3]
A New Zealand ISF soldier patrols Dili on polling day. Support for candidate Horta is displayed in background.
Operation Astute was established at the request of East Timor's government. Troops from formerINTERFET nations including mostly fromMalaysia,New Zealand andPortugal have augmented the Australian force. Prior to sending troops, each participating government negotiated aStatus of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the government ofEast Timor.[4]
Besides Australia, New Zealand and, for a time, theMalaysian Army forces began arriving on 26 May by air[2] and Portugal had also sent troops to East Timor. Initially, over 3,000 soldiers were deployed, but after the United Nations sent an international police mission (UNMIT) at the end of August 2006 and the situation calmed down, troop numbers were reduced. The ISF and UNMIT now jointly maintained law and order and helped rebuild the East Timorese security forces. An important task of both was also to ensure that thepresidential andparliamentary elections in 2007 proceeded reasonably peacefully. Australia, however, insisted that the ISF remain under its leadership and not under UN leadership.
The ISF's attempt to capture the fugitive leader of the 2006 rebel soldiers,Alfredo Reinado, was unsuccessful. An attempted seizure in Same failed despite the deployment of an Australian special force and helicopters. Reinado was later killed in anassassination attempt on the East Timorese leadership on 11 February 2008.
In February 2008, following the attack, Australia initially increased its troops from 800 to 1000. By the end of October 2008, the ISF still consisted of a total of about 1000 men. Australia provided soldiers from theANZAC Battle Group of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment fromTownsville. In addition, there were units from theArmy Aviation, Logistics, Military Police and Pioneers. In October 2009, the Australian contingent was down to 650 men.[5] New Zealand still provided 155 soldiers in December 2009. These included an Infantry Rifle Company attached to the ANZAC Battle Group and two Iroquois helicopters with 32 members of No 3 Squadron of theRoyal New Zealand Air Force.
Handover ceremony to East Timor Authorities in 2012
In 2010, the force was reduced to 400 Australian and 75 New Zealand soldiers.[6] The rebel movement subsequently collapsed in the following weeks. Troops were gradually reduced due to the progress made in stabilising the country, and it was decided to withdraw foreign security forces after the 2012presidential andparliamentary elections.[6]
21:59 (Canberra) Acting Prime Minister of Australia, Peter Costello, announced in a press conference thatEast Timor had requested Australia "send defence forces to East Timor to help in maintaining and re-establishing public order". Australia would send an advance party including the Vice Chief of Defence force to negotiate conditions of the deployment the following morning.[7]
25 May
07:00 (Canberra) Prime Minister of Australia John Howard arrives back in Canberra from Dublin early, though not officially because of the East Timor crisis.
12:30 (Darwin) ARAAF34SQNChallenger 604 (VIP jet) was tasked to fly the Australian Vice Chief of Defence Force fromCanberra toDili viaDarwin, to negotiate the rules of engagement of the Australian operation, and other conditions of deployment. However, on arrival in Darwin theChief of the Defence Force ordered the aircraft to remain in Darwin, due to a dramatic increase in violence in Dili.
(Dili)RAAF37SQNC130J Hercules aircraft arrive atDili fromDarwin with 130commandos on board, together with 4Australian ArmyBlack Hawk helicopters. The Vice Chief of Defence Force was also on board the C130, after being unable to fly to Dili on the RAAF VIP jet. Dili Airport is now under Australian military control. However the VCDF is unable to leave the airport due to security concerns.
18:43 (Canberra) Prime Minister John Howard announces in a press conference that the deployment will "go ahead without any conditionality" and that 1300 troops would be in place "in a very short order", despite a failure to negotiate conditions of the deployment with the East Timorese Government. He explains waiting for signatures could lead to significant further bloodshed and the East Timorese Government is desperate for Australian troops to arrive.[8]
(Darwin) TheRoyal Australian Air Force commence transporting troops to Dili. A33SQNBoeing 707 ferries troops betweenTownsville andDarwin, whilst36SQNC-130Hs and37SQNC-130Js transport troops and supplies between Darwin and Dili. The flights also commence evacuations of civilians on the return legs. The flights continue throughout the night and the following day to form an air bridge between Darwin and Dili.
26 May
(Dili) Malaysian Army soldiers begin arrive in Dili. RAAF aircraft continue to transport troops and equipment.
Rebel Timorese soldiers begin handing their weapons over to Australian troops.[9]
27 June
ANZAC Vehicle Check Point (VCP) nearHera, a few kilometres east of Dili.
It is announced that a New Zealand soldier fired a warning shot during the week of 18–24 June. This is apparently the first shot fired during the intervention.[10]
50 soldiers from 2/1 RNZIR and other units fly to Timor Leste to replace members of the initial New Zealand force.[11]
18 July
Australian Prime MinisterJohn Howard visits Timor Leste. During his visit he announced that the Australian force in the country will be gradually reduced.[12]
19 July
HMASKanimbla departs Timor Leste for Australia carrying 250 soldiers and four S-70A Blackhawk helicopters.[13]
The Australian Government announces that the ADF has commenced a gradual drawdown of forces in Timor Leste due to the improving security situation. An infantry company, 23 armoured personnel carriers and support personnel are scheduled to depart Timor Leste over the next few weeks.[14]
It is announced that a rifle company from 1 RAR will be deployed to Timor Leste by 9 September to reinforce the Australian-led force followingAlfredo Reinado's escape from prison on 30 August.[18]
19 September
The final elements of the Australian Army Battle Group Faithful return to Australia having been replaced by the ANZAC Battle Group led by the6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.[19]
Australia, East Timor, and the United Nations sign a memorandum of understanding[20] under which Operation Astute continues and theUnited Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor supports and helps to develop East Timor's police force.
After corneringReinado at a compound inSame, Australian Special Forces enter the town and conduct an assault. Reinado evades capture but five of his men are killed in theBattle of Same. The Timor Leste government subsequently called off the manhunt, preferring to pursue a dialogue with the rebels instead.
Australian forces successfully supervise round two elections, with no reports of violence.[21]
10 May
An unmanned Australian spy plane on operations over East Timor crashes into a house in the densely populated eastern suburb of Becora in Dili. Military helicopters were quickly sent to locate the wreckage, and an investigation was scheduled to begin the next day into whether the crash was due to technical failure or operator error.[22]
Operation Astute is an Australian military operation. While the Malaysian and New Zealand contingents operate under overall Australian command, the Portuguese contingent operates under Portuguese national command.[27] The initial Australian units deployed as part of the operation fell under the operational command of Brigadier Michael Slater, the commander of theAustralian 3rd Brigade. The major unit involved in land operations was the 3rd Battalion under its commanding officer, Lieutenant ColonelMick Mumford. This force was replaced in early September 2006 by a battalion group based around the6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment designated the ANZAC Battle Group.[28]
Australian ISF equipment and tactic demonstration to thePNTLAustralian ISF soldiers in Dili on bike patrol (2009)
Australia currently has approximately 404 personnel deployed to Timor-Leste, the majority of whom are formed into theANZAC Battle Group, named due to the presence of a rifle company from the New Zealand Army integrated in its structure.
33SQN are assisting the operation by transporting troops fromRAAF Base Townsville toRAAF Base Darwin, however only 36SQN and 37SQN have been flying from Darwin toDili.
New Zealander ISF Soldiers welcoming the arriving personnel with a traditionalMāoriPowhiri (welcome ceremony) on Thursday, 03 November 2011.Honouring of New Zealand ISF soldiers by President Ramos-Horta (2011)
While the Portuguese forces deployed to East Timor are not operating under Australian command, they are acting in co-operation with the Australian, Malaysian and New Zealand forces which are under Australian command.[27]
Bravo Detachment of theRepublican National Guard (GNR), initially with 120 soldiers and now with about 200
The two United States aircraft flew transport flights between Australian air bases (mainlyRAAF Base Townsville andRAAF Base Darwin) and were not deployed to East Timor. The aircraft did, however, visit theSolomon Islands in order pick up Australian equipment and personnel.[40] The USAF force completed its mission on 3 June.[41]
The cost of Operation Astute has represented the third largest operation expenditure between 2006 and 2008, and the second largest from 2009. Below is the yearly expenditure on Operation Astute of the Australian Defence Force.
Australia
New Zealand
Malaysia
Portugal
East Timor(government troops)
United Nations soldiers
Bill Sowry
Ismeth Nayan Ismail
Jorge Barradas
.jpg)
