| Multi-National Division (South-West) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1995–2004 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Type | Command |
| Part of | IFOR SFOR |
| Garrison/HQ | Banja Luka |
The Multi-National Division (South-West) was a military formation which formed part of IFOR, a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996, and then formed part of SFOR, another NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force, from 20 December 1996 until June 2004.
The division's role, passed down to it by IFOR, was to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina – specifically in the South-West Sector. [1] From December 1996, the role passed down by SFOR was to "deter hostilities and stabilise the peace, contribute to a secure environment by providing a continued military presence in the Area Of Responsibility (AOR), target and coordinate SFOR support to key areas including primary civil implementation organisations, and progress towards a lasting consolidation of peace, without further need for NATO-led forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina" – again specifically in the South-West Sector. [2]
The division was based at Banja Luka and was British led: the British codename for its involvement in IFOR was Operation Resolute [3] and for its involvement in SFOR was Operation Lodestar. [4] Multi-National Division (South-West) included a British brigade (4th Mechanized Brigade from October 1995, [5] 1st Mechanized Brigade from April 1996, [6] 20th Armoured Brigade from October 1996 [7] and 7th Armoured Brigade from April 1997) [8] as well as Canadian and Dutch units. [9]
Division headquarters was provided by 3 (UK) Division from December 1995 until June 1996 [10] and again in January 1998 to August 1998; [11] Division headquarters was provided by 1st (UK) Armoured Division from June 1996 to December 1996 [7] and again from August 1998 to March 1999. [12]
Commanders were as follows:
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