Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

 

                     Identical letters dated 2 March 2002 from the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council

 

 

           On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a letter dated 28 February 2002 from Mr. Naji Sabri, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq. The Minister calls attention to the ongoing wanton aggression against Iraq by United States and British aircraft in the unlawful no-flight zones and to the fact that in the period from 16 January to 15 February 2002 they carried out 537 hostile sorties, 72 of them from Saudi Arabia, 335 from Kuwait and 130 from Turkey. United States aircraft fired missiles at military and civilian sites in Dhi Qar and Ninawa governorates, killing four citizens and damaging some civilian and military installations.

           The Minister states that Iraq regards the United States, the United Kingdom and the countries that provide the logistic support for these acts of aggression, namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Turkey, as bearing full international responsibility for them. He further states that Iraq reserves its right, as established by the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to defend itself against these ongoing hostile, terrorist acts. He urges you to perform the duties assigned to you under the Charter by ensuring that this persistent aggression is halted and does not recur and that its perpetrators and the regional parties that associate themselves with it are made to bear full legal responsibility for it.

           I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.

 

 

           (Signed) Mohammed A. Aldouri
           Permanent Representative

                     Annex to the identical letters dated 2 March 2002 from the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations
addressed to the Secretary-General and to the President
of the Security Council

 

 

           I should like to inform you that the United States of America and the United Kingdom have continued their aerial aggression against the Republic of Iraq. United States and British warplanes based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Turkey have thus continued to violate Iraq's airspace. They flew 537 armed sorties in the period from 16 January to 15 February 2002, 72 of them from Saudi Arabia, 335 from Kuwait and 130 from Turkey, as shown in the statement enclosed herewith. On 21 and 23 January 2002 United States and British aircraft fired missiles at military and civilian sites in Dhi Qar governorate, and on 24 January 2002 they bombed military and civilian sites in Dhi Qar and Ninawa governorates, killing four citizens and damaging some civilian and military installations.

           The enforcement by the United States and the United Kingdom of no-flight zones in northern and southern Iraq is a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the established norms of international law and the Security Council resolutions urging States to respect Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, and it constitutes ongoing armed aggression against Iraq. The international community has condemned the maintenance of the no-flight zones as representing an illegal use of force against an independent State. The United Nations has also done so, as exemplified by the statement of the Secretary-General at his press conference of 19 December 2001, when he said (press release SG/SM/8081):

           "[I indicated that] ... I did not see anything in the Security Council resolution that authorizes the imposition or the enforcement of a no-flight zone. But several countries have decided to do it ...".

           The attacks being launched by United States and British aircraft on Iraqi towns and villages and on structures that are basic to life in the country, including health-care and educational establishments and houses of worship, constitute blatant and continuing State terrorism and gross interference in the internal affairs of Iraq. When the 30-nation aggression of 1991 failed to break the will of Iraqis or to impair their freedom and independence, the United States and the United Kingdom proceeded to take the unilateral decision to impose the no-flight zones, first in northern Iraq on 7 April 1991 and then in southern Iraq on 27 August 1992, and they used armed force to attack Iraqi civilian and military installations with a view to undermining Iraq's stability and endangering the lives of its people. The maintenance of these zones and the use of force in them therefore represent a violation of the principle of non-use of force as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and are in breach of the Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq, all of which affirm that Iraq's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected. Since the no-flight zones were first imposed, there have been 211,154 violations by United States and British aircraft, including violations in which military and civilian sites have been bombed and destroyed, and 1,476 people have been killed and more than 1,320 injured.

           Although the entire world has condemned this aggression and despite the letters we address to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council providing details of these acts of terrorist aggression, the United States continues to proclaim its contempt for the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of the Security Council, and the Security Council has taken no action with regard to this terrorist aggression being committed by the United States and the United Kingdom. This raises serious questions about the credibility of the United Nations and the Security Council and about their capacity to apply the norms of the Charter to all without distinction and without the use of double standards or to safeguard international peace and security and halt the acts of aggression and intimidation of two of the permanent members of the Council that endanger the same international peace and security.

           The Government of Iraq considers that the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom and the countries that provide the facilities for this terrorist aggression, namely Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, should bear full responsibility for these hostile acts. It affirms Iraq's established entitlement under the Charter of the United Nations and international law to exercise its legitimate right to defend itself against this ongoing hostile, terrorist activity. It further expresses the hope that you will perform the duties assigned to you as they relate to the maintenance of international peace and security, that you will call upon the governments of the countries in question to halt their continuing aggression against Iraq forthwith and that you will ensure that those committing the aggression and the regional parties that are facilitating its continuation are made to bear full legal responsibility for it.

 

 

           (Signed) Naji Sabri
           Minister for Foreign Affairs

                     Enclosure

 

                     Violations of the airspace of the Republic of Iraq by United States and British warplanes, 16 January-15 February 2002

 

 

                    I.     Northern region

 

           In the northern region 130 sorties were flown at speeds of 720 to 780 kilometres per hour and at altitudes of 6,000 to 12,000 metres, as follows:

1.        At 1855 hours on 17 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 14 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Aqrah, Rawanduz, Zakho, Dohuk and Irbil areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2120 hours, drove them off.

2.        At 2000 hours on 18 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15 and F‑16 aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 16 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Aqrah, Irbil and Rawanduz areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2215 hours, drove them off.

3.        At 1135 hours on 23 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 12 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Zakho, Amadiyah, Aqrah, Dohuk and Ayn Zalah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1435 hours, drove them off.

4.        At 1215 hours on 25 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15 and F‑16 aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 14 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Aqrah, Dohuk, Ayn Zalah, Irbil, Ayn Sifni and Zakho areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1515 hours, drove them off.

5.        At 1115 hours on 29 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 16 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Aqrah, Dohuk, Ayn Zalah, Irbil, Rawanduz and Zakho areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1420 hours, drove them off.

6.        At 1200 hours on 3 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 14 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Aqrah, Dohuk, Ayn Zalah, Rawanduz and Zakho areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1430 hours, drove them off.

7.        At 1145 hours on 4 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 14 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Aqrah, Dohuk, Ayn Zalah, Mosul, Baibo and Zakho areas. United States and British aircraft fired missiles at military and civilian sites in Ninawa governorate, killing four citizens and damaging some civilian and military installations. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1515 hours, drove them off.

8.        At 1400 hours on 5 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15 and F‑16 aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 10 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Aqrah, Dohuk, Rawanduz and Irbil areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1630 hours, drove them off.

           At 1230 hours Turkish formations penetrated our national airspace in the area of the Iraq-Iran-Turkey tripoint, carrying out seven armed sorties. The aircraft overflew the Baibo, Aqrah, Rawanduz, Qal`at Dizah and Dokan areas and left our airspace at 1320 hours.

9.        At 1220 hours on 10 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F‑16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out 14 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Aqrah, Dohuk, Irbil and Zakho areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1445 hours, drove them off.

10.      At 1120 hours on 13 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F‑16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Turkey and from Turkish airspace penetrated Iraq's airspace in the northern region. They carried out six armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Aqrah, Dohuk and Zakho areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1130 hours, drove them off.

 

                   II.     Southern region

 

           In the southern region 407 armed sorties were flown at speeds of 720 to 780 kilometres per hour and at altitudes of 9,000 to 13,000 metres, as follows:

1.        At 1115 hours on 16 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15 and F‑16 aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 19 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Salman, Artawi, Busayyah, Jalibah, Nasiriyah and Ashbajah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1325 hours, drove them off.

2.        At 1315 hours on 17 January 2002, United States and British F-15 aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Saudi and Kuwaiti airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out four armed sorties, two of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and two from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Busayyah and Salman areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1345 hours, drove them off.

3.        At 1510 hours on 18 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Saudi and Kuwaiti airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 22 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Ashbajah, Artawi, Jalibah, Salman and Nasiriyah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1630 hours, drove them off.

4.        At 2025 hours on 21 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 24 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace. They overflew the Nasiriyah, Salman, Jalibah, Qal`at Salih, Shatrah, Qurnah and Umm Qasr areas. United States and British aircraft fired missiles at military and civilian sites in the Nasiriyah area. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2240 hours, drove them off.

5.        At 1955 hours on 22 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15 and F‑16 aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 10 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Salman, Artawi, Jalibah, Ashbajah, Nasiriyah and Samawah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2115 hours, drove them off.

6.        At 2035 hours on 23 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 16 armed sorties, four of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 12 from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Samawah, Rumaythah, Ashbajah, Nasiriyah and Artawi areas. United States and British aircraft fired missiles at civilian and military sites in the Nasiriyah area. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2230 hours, drove them off.

7.        At 1525 hours on 24 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15 and F‑16 aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 24 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Ra's al-Bishah, Busayyah, Jalibah, Faw, Artawi, Ashbajah and Ma`aniyah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2205 hours, drove them off.

8.        At 2125 hours on 25 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 18 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace and an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace. They overflew the Lasaf, Nasiriyah, Busayyah, Jalibah, Salman and Jabayish areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2300 hours, drove them off.

9.        At 1600 hours on 27 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 18 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace and an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace. They overflew the Jalibah, Busayyah, Salman, Nasiriyah, Ashbajah, Rumaythah, Samawah and Qal`at Sukkar areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1725 hours, drove them off.

10.      At 1615 hours on 29 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15 and F‑16 aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 18 armed sorties, eight of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 10 from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Lasaf, Safwan, Jalibah, Busayyah, Salman, Ashbajah and Artawi areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1745 hours, drove them off.

11.      At 1910 hours on 31 January 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 16 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace. They overflew the Jalibah, Busayyah, Nasiriyah, Salman, Artawi and Ashbajah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2030 hours, drove them off.

12.      At 1845 hours on 1 February 2002, United States and British F-14 and F-15 aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 14 armed sorties, eight of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and six from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Umm Qasr, Busayyah, Ashbajah, Salman, Safwan, Lasaf and Nasiriyah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2000 hours, drove them off.

13.      At 1905 hours on 2 February 2002, United States and British F-14 and F-15 aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 22 armed sorties, eight of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 14 from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Ashbajah, Salman, Safwan, Artawi and Nasiriyah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2050 hours, drove them off.

14.      At 1900 hours on 3 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 14 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace. They overflew the Shinafiyah, Samawah, Busayyah, Ashbajah and Salman areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2055 hours, drove them off.

15.      At 1940 hours on 4 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 16 armed sorties, six of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 10 from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Basrah, Salman, Diwaniyah South, Artawi and Nasiriyah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2105 hours, drove them off.

16.      At 1945 hours on 5 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 26 armed sorties, eight of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 18 from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Amarah, Salman, Jalibah and Nasiriyah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 2100 hours, drove them off.

17.      At 1405 hours on 8 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 16 armed sorties, 10 of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and six from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Artawi, Jalibah, Busayyah, Nasiriyah, Samawah, Salman, Ashbajah, Lasaf, Shinafiyah and Nukhayb areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1600 hours, drove them off.

18.      At 1330 hours on 9 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 16 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Basrah, Busayyah, Jalibah, Ashbajah and Salman areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1515 hours, drove them off.

19.      At 1335 hours on 10 February 2002, United States and British F-15, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 14 armed sorties, two of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 12 from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Artawi, Butmah, Salman, Jalibah, Ashbajah, Samawah and Busayyah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1455 hours, drove them off.

20.      At 1300 hours on 11 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 10 armed sorties, four of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and six from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Basrah, Artawi, Jalibah, Busayyah, Samawah, Nasiriyah, Shinafiyah and Ashbajah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1420 hours, drove them off.

21.      At 1310 hours on 12 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F‑16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 18 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E‑2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Jalibah, Artawi, Taqtaqanah and Salman areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1520 hours, drove them off.

22.      At 1220 hours on 14 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 27 armed sorties, 12 of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 15 from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Artawi, Salman, Basrah, Jalibah, Busayyah, Shinafiyah and Ashbajah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1330 hours, drove them off.

23.      At 1100 hours on 15 February 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F‑16, Tornado and EA-6B aircraft coming from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and from Kuwaiti and Saudi airspace and territorial waters penetrated Iraq's airspace in the southern region. They carried out 25 armed sorties from Kuwaiti territory and by way of the demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait with the support of an E‑2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Jalibah, Nukhayb, Safwan, Talhah, Ashbajah and Salman areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1400 hours, drove them off.