Commander Iceland Defense Forces

The Commander Iceland Defense Forces (IDF) was the senior U.S. military officer responsible for the defense of Iceland during the Cold War. Established in 1951 under the auspices of NATO, the IDF coordinated U.S. and allied forces stationed at Keflavik Air Base to protect the strategically vital North Atlantic sea lanes from Soviet threats. The command played a key role in anti-submarine warfare and air surveillance, ensuring the security of NATO operations in the region. With the easing of global tensions, the U.S. withdrew its permanent military presence and disestablished the command in 2006.