DELIBERATE GUARD

International Information

International Operation Name: DELIBERATE GUARD

International Mission Name: DELIBERATE GUARD

Mandating Organization: United Nations

Region Name: Europe

Location: Former Yugoslavia

Mission Date: 21 December 1996 - 19 June 1998

Mission Mandate: To United Nations Security Council Resolution 1088, 12 December 1996 (Chapter VII)

Mission Statement: To provide air support to United Nations and NATO forces deployed as part of the Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Mission/Operation Notes: The Dayton Peace Accords, signed in Paris on 14 December 1995, brought the hope of peace to the former Yugoslav republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The United Nations Security Council authorized the Implementation Force (IFOR) as a means to implement and guarantee the Accord. With the one-year mandate of IFOR about to expire, the Security Council authorized the creation of the Stabilization Force on 12 December 1996, as a Chapter VII operation.

NATO had maintained air assets in Europe dedicated to the support of IFOR. These forces operated under the NATO name Operation Decisive Endeavour. They included fighters and transports from 12 NATO nations as well as the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force flying E3A aircraft out of Geilenkirchen, Germany.

On 21 December 1996, the NATO air assets assigned to Operation Decisive Endeavour were transferred to support the Stabilization Force (NATO Operation Joint Guard) under the new NATO air operation name Operation Deliberate Guard. The operation involved almost 5500 personnel from 12 NATO nations, operating from five European NATO nations and from aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean.

The NAEWF aircraft provided surveillance and a picture of the air and ground situation for the SFOR and air component commanders. The seven aircraft assigned to the operation were normally forward deployed to Preveza, Greece or Trapani, Italy. Two British and one French AWACS aircraft also supported the operation.

Canadian Forces (CF) Information (DELIBERATE GUARD)

Canadian Forces participation in Operation Deliberate Guard included the personnel posted to the NAEWF in Geilenkirchen, Germany. The Canadian personnel were integrated into the air and ground crews that support the operations of the NATO unit. Additional CF assets - six CF-18s from 416 Squadron - deployed in support of Operation Deliberate Guard. Under the Canadian name Operation Mirador, the CF-18s participated from 14 August to 30 November 1997.