Operation Southern Watch

Operation Southern Watch
source
Conflict	Operation Southern Watch
Partof	the Gulf War aftermath and Iraqi no-fly zones
Date	27 August 1992 – 19 March 2003
Place	Southern Iraq, below the 32nd parallel (later 33rd parallel)
Result	Enforcement of no-fly zone; Preceded 2003 invasion of Iraq
Combatant1	Coalition:, United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, France (until 1998), Kuwait
Combatant2	Iraq
Commander1	USCENTCOM, Royal Air Force
Commander2	Saddam Hussein, Iraqi Air Force

Operation Southern Watch. It was a military operation conducted by a United States-led coalition to monitor and enforce a UN-authorized no-fly zone over southern Iraq following the Gulf War. Established to protect Iraqi Shi’a populations and deter aggression against neighboring countries, the operation involved continuous air patrols and frequent combat engagements with Iraqi Air Force and air defense units. The mission lasted from August 1992 until the commencement of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, serving as a prolonged period of containment against the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Background and origins

The operation was a direct consequence of the Gulf War ceasefire and the subsequent brutal suppression of 1991 uprisings in Iraq, particularly the Shi’a revolt in the south. In response to the humanitarian crisis and regional threats, the United Nations Security Council issued United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, which demanded Iraq end repression of its civilian population. To enforce this, the United States, United Kingdom, and France spearheaded the creation of the Iraqi no-fly zones. Operation Southern Watch was formally initiated to police the zone south of the 32nd parallel, later expanded to the 33rd parallel, with major support facilities located in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Objectives and mandate

The primary objective was to enforce the prohibition of all Iraqi fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft flights, thereby preventing the regime from using air power to persecute civilians. A key strategic aim was to protect the Marsh Arabs and other Shi’a communities while containing the military capabilities of Saddam Hussein. The mandate also served to uphold regional stability by deterring Iraqi aggression against neighboring states like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and to compel Iraqi compliance with other United Nations Security Council resolutions, including those pertaining to weapons of mass destruction.

Enforcement and operations

Enforcement was carried out by coalition aircraft operating from bases such as Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Units like the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing and the RAF No. 904 Expeditionary Air Wing conducted near-daily patrols, known as Combat Air Patrols. These missions involved fighter aircraft like the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, supported by AWACS and aerial refueling tankers. Iraqi forces routinely challenged these patrols by illuminating coalition jets with fire-control radar and firing surface-to-air missiles, leading to numerous defensive retaliatory strikes against Iraqi air defense sites.

Key incidents and events

Significant confrontations marked the operation, including the 1993 missile strikes on Iraq in response to an Iraqi plot against former President George H. W. Bush. A major escalation occurred in 1996 when Iraq launched Operation Desert Strike after attacking the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the north. The 1998 bombing of Iraq (Operation Desert Fox) further intensified hostilities. A pivotal incident was the 2001 H-3 airstrike, where coalition aircraft destroyed a key radar site. Frequent engagements occurred in the Iraqi no-fly zones conflict, with notable actions like the 2002 attack on the H-3 Airfield complex, which degraded Iraqi integrated air defenses.

Conclusion and legacy

The operation effectively ended on 19 March 2003, as its enforcement missions were subsumed by the opening aerial campaign of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, dubbed Operation Iraqi Freedom. Its decade-long enforcement succeeded in denying Iraq air sovereignty over its southern region and provided a framework for the later invasion. The presence of U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia, a direct result of the operation, was cited by Osama bin Laden as a grievance, influencing the rise of al-Qaeda. The operation set precedents for no-fly zone enforcement and demonstrated the prolonged use of air power for coercion and containment.

Category:Military operations involving the United States Category:Military operations involving the United Kingdom Category:1992 in Iraq Category:2003 in Iraq