Afghanistan

The military operation in Afghanistan was launched following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in the United States and became one of the longest and most extensive military deployments of the post–Cold War period.

In total, more than 32,000 Romanian military personnel took part in operations carried out in Afghanistan, including within the framework of the following missions:

Operation "Enduring Freedom" – This operation was launched in October 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11. It began with air raids and ground offensives by Coalition forces, which led to the fall of the capital city, Kabul, in December 2001. Following this event, an interim Afghan government was established.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) – This operation was established by the UN Security Council to ensure security in Kabul and its surrounding areas. It was led by NATO and had as its primary mission maintaining security in the Afghan capital.

Operation "Resolute Support" (RSM) – This mission focused on training, advising, and assisting the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). Romania deployed approximately 615 military personnel as part of this operation, participating in training and force protection activities.

Romania’s participation in these operations included numerous military units and detachments, such as infantry battalions, military police units, special operations forces, staff personnel, air traffic control teams, and many others.

This involvement of the Romanian Armed Forces in Afghanistan represented one of the most significant missions undertaken after the end of World War II. Over the course of 19 years, more than 32,000 Romanian military personnel were deployed and later withdrawn, and 27 of them lost their lives in the theater of operations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Romania participated in two major missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

IFOR (Implementation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Period: March 8 – December 20, 1996

IFOR was an international peacekeeping force whose objectives included maintaining peace, withdrawing forces and weaponry, and restoring normal life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also contributed to the reconstruction of road and railway infrastructure, airfields, and successfully supported the general elections held in September 1996.

The Romanian Army participated in this mission with an engineering battalion (96th Engineer Battalion), which carried out reconnaissance and demining activities, repairs, maintenance, and construction of roads and bridges. During this mission, one Romanian soldier lost his life.

SFOR (NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Period: December 1, 1996 – November 2004

SFOR was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the Bosnian War. Its mission was to deter hostilities, stabilize peace, and contribute to a secure environment. Romania continued to participate as a contributing nation to this multinational force, with a focus on peacekeeping and ensuring regional stability.

Iraq

Romania maintained a military presence in Iraq for more than six years, from March 19, 2003, until July 23, 2009, when the mission was successfully concluded.

Alongside its substantial contribution of forces to the Operation Iraqi Freedom Coalition, the Romanian Armed Forces also participated with instructors in the second mission conducted in this theater of operations, namely the NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I), between January 2005 and November 2011. During the 2003–2009 period, nearly 10,000 Romanian military personnel carried out missions in this theater of operations.

The presence of Romanian troops within the multinational coalition for the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq was based on United Nations Security Council resolutions that established the Multinational Force in Iraq and defined its mandate.

For Romania, participation in the Iraq mission represented confirmation of its status as an active member of the international community, a provider of security, and a credible partner and ally.

Between 2003 and 2009, the Romanian Armed Forces completed 12 rotations in the theaters of operations, with troops operating in multiple areas under American, British, Italian, or Polish operational control.

Conducting operations under extremely harsh geographical, climatic, and military conditions represented a significant endurance test for both personnel and equipment.

Through its participation in operations in Iraq, the Romanian Armed Forces made a substantial contribution to promoting Romania’s interests in the Middle East and to strengthening its status as a reliable partner within both the multinational coalition and NATO.

High-ranking foreign civilian and military officials — including Generals David Petraeus, William Casey, and Ray Odierno, commanders of the Multinational Force in Iraq; Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense; Baroness Emma Nicholson, Special Representative of the European Union in Iraq; and Major General Mark Kelly, Commander of the Australian Army — expressed high praise for Romanian military personnel during their service in Iraq.

Through their participation in this mission, Romanian soldiers gained valuable operational experience in a theater of operations where asymmetric threats were omnipresent. They became directly acquainted with the realities of the modern battlefield. Command and staff personnel enhanced their competencies in the planning, leadership, and execution of combat missions, in accordance with the standard operating procedures of the Coalition and the North Atlantic Alliance.

In recognition of the contribution and efforts made, starting in November 2006, Romania assumed the position of Deputy for Coalition Operations to the Chief of Staff of the Multinational Force in Iraq, coordinating the actions and activities of coalition partner forces other than those of the United States.

Over the six years of participation with military structures in this theater of operations, approximately 10,000 Romanian military personnel were deployed (12 rotations of six months each). Two Romanian soldiers lost their lives during the mission.