Operation Astute

Australian soldiers supporting the Dili Fire Service in June 2006

Date	25 May 2006 – 25 May 2013
Location	East Timor
Result	Stabilisation of East Timor

Belligerents

Australia

New Zealand

Malaysia

Portugal

East Timor (government troops)

United Nations soldiers

Renegade elements of the FDTL

Commanders and leaders

Bill Sowry

Mick Mumford

Ismeth Nayan Ismail

Jorge Barradas

Taur Matan Ruak

Gastão Salsinha
Alfredo Reinado †

Strength

13,536 troops
372 police
9 ships

Unknown

Casualties and losses

Unknown

Operation Astute was an Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. It was headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater. The operation was established at the request of East Timor's government, and continues under an understanding reached between Australia, East Timor, and the United Nations, with the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor supporting and helping to develop East Timor's police force. Other countries deploying soldiers to East Timor include Malaysia, New Zealand and East Timor's former colonial power Portugal, operating under independent command.

The initial tasks of the operation were to:

A forward deployment of approximately 200, including a commando company from the 4th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, secured an entry point for follow-on forces centred on Dili Airport.

The full deployment consisted of a battalion group of about 1,800 personnel drawn from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and other Australian and New Zealand Army units. Evacuations were carried out by C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, using RAAF Base Darwin as a Forward Operating Base.

Initial assets deployed included the guided-missile frigate HMAS Adelaide, the replenishment vessel HMAS Success and the amphibious landing/hospital ship HMAS Kanimbla. Landing ships HMAS Tobruk and HMAS Manoora were also sent to East Timor with follow-on forces.

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Wikipedia