International Force for East Timor

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Australian soldiers and an ASLAV in East Timor in 1999.

INTERFET (standing for INTERnational Force for East Timor) was a multinational peacekeeping taskforce, mandated by the United Nations to address the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from 1999–2000 until the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers.

INTERFET was commanded by Major-General Peter Cosgrove of the Australian Army.

1 United Nations resolution
2 Operation Warden
3 Countries contributing to INTERFET
4 See also
5 Notes & references
6 External links

[edit] United Nations resolution

A UN-sponsored referendum held on 30 August 1999 had shown overwhelming approval for East Timorese independence from Indonesia. After the result was announced on 4 September, violent clashes, instigated by a suspected anti-independence militia, sparked a humanitarian and security crisis in the region, with Xanana Gusmao calling for a UN peacekeeper force the same day.^[1]

Under international pressure to allow an international peacekeeping force, Indonesian president BJ Habibie announced on 12 September that he would do so.^[2]

On 15 September 1999, the United Nations Security Council expressed concern at the deteriorating situation in East Timor, and issued UNSC Resolution 1264 calling for a multinational force to restore peace and security to East Timor, to protect and support the United Nations Mission there, and to facilitate humanitarian assistance operations until such time as a United Nations peacekeeping force could be approved and deployed in the area.^[3]

[edit] Operation Warden

The INTERFET coalition forces began deploying to East Timor on 20 September 1999, led by a vanguard of nine warships, including HMS Glasgow and USS Mobile Bay. Most United Nations UNAMET (United Nations Mission in East Timor) personnel, as well as Indonesian military, police and administrators had already been evacuated from the region in the preceding months by the Royal Australian Air Force and other allied air forces, including the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The arrival of thousands of international troops in East Timor caused the milita to flee across the border into Indonesia. Sporadic cross-border raids by the militia against INTERFET forces, particularly in the southern border held by the New Zealand Army, led to suspicion that the milita had the tacit support of the Indonesian military.

Five months later, on 28 February 2000, INTERFET handed over command of military operations to UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor).