Editing Netherlands Armed Forces (section)

=== Mali ===
[[File:Fennek patrouille Mali.jpg|thumb|Dutch forces patrolling the plains north of [[Gao]] using [[Fennek]] reconnaissance vehicles.]]
Special forces of the [[Korps Commandotroepen]] were deployed to [[Mali]] since 2014 as part of the UN mission [[United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali|MINUSMA]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=de Ridder |first1=Marlous |title=Commando's welkom in Gao: Special Forces nog nooit zo in de openbaarheid |journal=Landmacht |date=10 June 2014 |volume=05 |url=https://magazines.defensie.nl/landmacht/2014/05/artikel-mali-repo |access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> The primary task of the Dutch forces was to gather intelligence on local Islamist and rebel groups and to protect the people of Mali against said groups.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kuijl |first1=Wouter |title=De All-Sources Information Fusion Unit in Mali en de Dutch Approach |journal=Militaire Spectator |date=23 January 2019 |volume=188 |issue=1 |url=https://www.militairespectator.nl/thema/operaties/artikel/de-all-sources-information-fusion-unit-mali-en-de-dutch-approach |access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> Since 2016, conventional detachments consisting of [[11th Airmobile Brigade (Netherlands)|11 Air Assault Brigade]] and [[13th Light Brigade (Netherlands)|13 Light Brigade]] troops were part of the MINUSMA rotations as well. Additionally, the Dutch contribution consisted of a RNLAF [[AH-64 Apache]] and [[CH-47 Chinook]] detachment which provided the necessary air support and transport for the infantry units on the ground.

On 16 March 2015, a Dutch AH-64D Apache [[attack helicopter]] of the Dutch MINUSMA air detachment crashed during a firing exercise, killing the two pilots.<ref>{{cite web |title=2 Apache pilots killed in Mali |url=https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2015/03/17/2-apache-pilots-killed-in-mali |website=government.nl |publisher=Government of the Netherlands |access-date=3 August 2021 |date=17 March 2015}}</ref> On 6 July 2016, two servicemen of 11 Air Assault Brigade were killed during a mortar-firing exercise, while a third serviceman was severely wounded.<ref>{{cite news |title=Militairen Luchtmobiele Brigade sluiten missie in Mali af |language=nl |trans-title=Airmobile Brigade soldiers close mission in Mali |url=https://www.rtvdrenthe.nl/nieuws/146864/Militairen-Luchtmobiele-Brigade-sluiten-missie-in-Mali-af |access-date=2 May 2020 |work=[[RTV Drenthe]] |date=28 April 2019}}</ref> The incident lead to the resignation of the [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|minister of Defence]] [[Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert]] and [[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]] General [[Tom Middendorp]] after a critical report by the [[Dutch Safety Board]] found that the safety standards were subpar.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dutch minister resigns over deaths of Mali peacekeepers |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41498523 |access-date=2 May 2020 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=4 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mortierongeval Mali |language=nl |trans-title=Mortar accident Mali |url=https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/nl/page/4401/mortierongeval-mali |publisher=Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid (Dutch Safety Board) |access-date=2 May 2020 |date=28 September 2017}}</ref> The Netherlands ended their sizable contribution to the peacekeeping mission in May 2019 to send additional troops to Afghanistan instead.<ref>{{cite news |last1=van 't Einde |first1=Tom |title=Missie in Mali voorbij, militairen terug naar Nederland |trans-title=Mission in Mali over, soldiers back to the Netherlands |language=nl |url=https://eenvandaag.avrotros.nl/item/missie-in-mali-voorbij-militairen-terug-naar-nederland/ |access-date=2 May 2020 |work=[[EenVandaag]] |publisher=AVROTROS |date=1 May 2019}}</ref>