French forces in Afghanistan have been involved in the ongoing War in Afghanistan since late 2001. They operate within two distinct frameworks: 

• the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), carried out by NATO on a United Nations mandate 
• "Operation Enduring Freedom", under US command, as part of the War on Terror. 

French forces have contributed to both chapters in several national operations: 

• Opération Pamir with the ISAF, 
• Opération Héraklès for the naval and air components 
• Opération Épidote for training of the Afghan Army 
• Opération Arès for special operations within "Operation Enduring Freedom" 

As of 1 November 2009, 4,000 French personnel were deployed in Afghanistan, including the air support of Combined Task Force 150 in the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, 150 gendarmes were deployed in late 2009. Operations in 2009 alone cost 450 million Euros, amounting to over half the 870 million Euros devoted to military operations abroad. 88 men have been killed. 
In February 2012, after an Afghan soldier shot and killed four French soldiers in eastern Afghanistan, French president Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to suspend French operations in Afghanistan.[4] The newly elected presidentFrancois Hollande, announced in June 2012 that he would be withdrawing 2,000 of France's 3,400 troops in Afghanistan, leaving 1,400 for training and logistics.[5] In November 2012, France's combat troops were withdrawn 

The Brigade La Fayette, also named Task Force La Fayette, is a joint unit of the French forces in Afghanistan. It was officially created on 1 November 2009, along with a complete reorganisation of the French military deployment in Afghanistan. It comprises most of the French Army units involved in the ISAF. The unit was named in honour of Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette. It headquarters is at Nijrab outpost, near Nijrab, in the Kapisa Province. It is headed by general Jean-Pierre Palasset.

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