Organization and command structure

September 20, 1996
(this is the last update for IFOR)

The Implementation Force had a unified command and was NATO-led, under the political direction and control of the Alliance's North Atlantic Council, as stipulated by the Peace Agreement (Annex 1A).

  • Overall military authority was in the hands of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Gen George Joulwan.
  • COMIFOR was Adm T. Joseph Lopez (US Navy).
  • IFOR deputy commander was Gen Marc Waymel (French Army).
  • IFOR Chief of Staff was Lt Gen William Carter (US Army).

Various Component Commanders reported to COMIFOR:

  • Lt Gen Sir Michael Walker (UK Army) was the commander of land forces, based in Sarajevo. Reporting to him were three Division commanders:
    • Maj Gen Xavier de Lambert (French Army), based in Mostar;
    • Maj Gen William Nash (US Army), based in Tuzla;
    • Maj Gen John Kiszely (UK Army), based in Banja Luka.
  • Maj Gen Charles C. Cannon (US Army) was the IFOR Commander for Support. He is based in Zagreb and was responsible for all the logistic support activities.
  • The Air Component commander was Commander Allied Air Forces Southern Europe (COMAIRSOUTH), Lt Gen Richard Bethurem, USAF. Forces previously associated with Operation Deny Flight were assigned to COMAIRSOUTH to accomplish his tasks as IFOR Air Component commander. He is responsible for IFOR air operations and airspace control. He operates from the Combined Air Operation Centre (CAOC) at Vicenza, Italy, which includes the Regional Air Movement Control Centre (RAMCC) to manage airlift operations.
  • The IFOR maritime component composes ships from several nations, which are formed into task forces and are available or can be called upon to support the IFOR mission. Other naval forces presently in the Mediterranean Sea can be made available.
    There are two maritime commanders:

    • Commander Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe (COMNAVSOUTH), Adm. Mario Angeli, Italian Navy who has operational command of naval units which ensure that the Adriatic Sea Lines of Communication remain open for the reinforcement and resupply of IFOR forces ashore.
    • Commander Allied Striking Forces Southern Europe (COMSTRIKFORSOUTH), VAdm Charles S. Abbot, USN who has under command power projection forces which remain available to support IFOR as needed, particularly in the event of non-compliance with the Peace Agreement. These forces include carrier-based aviation assets and amphibious forces.

IFOR operated under clear NATO rules of engagement which provided for the robust use of force if necessary to accomplish its mission and to protect itself. If force needed to be used to ensure compliance with the terms of the Peace Agreement, IFOR would observe the international legal principles of proportionality, the minimum use of force and the requirement to minimize the potential for collateral damage.

IFOR consisted of elements transferred to the theater by participating nations and of elements of UN Peace Forces already in place, which now came under NATO command and control.

IFOR build partly upon elements of the UN peace forces already in place. These forces came under NATO command and control following a transfer of authority on 20 December 1995 and the termination of UNPROFOR's mandate.