Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

 

                     Identical letters dated 28 April 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 27 April 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 March to 15 April 2002 they carried out 367 armed sorties, 38 of them from Saudi Arabia, 259 from Kuwait and 70 from Turkey, as shown in the statement enclosed with the letter.

           The Minister reaffirms the Government of Iraq's condemnation of these acts of aggression against Iraqi territory, and he states that full international responsibility for such hostile, terrorist acts must be borne by the United States of America and the United Kingdom. He further states that Iraq reserves its right, as established by the Charter of the United Nations and international law, to defend itself against this ongoing hostile, terrorist activity. He urges you to perform the duties assigned to you under the Charter in order to halt this persistent aggression and prevent any recurrence, to ensure that its perpetrators are made to bear full legal responsibility for it and to urge the regional parties that associate themselves with it to desist from providing the necessary facilities.

           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 28 April 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 367 armed sorties in the period from 16 March to 15 April 2002, 38 of them from Saudi Arabia, 259 from Kuwait and 70 from Turkey, as shown in the statement enclosed herewith.

           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 should bear full responsibility for this terrorist aggression. 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. In the context of the responsibilities assigned to you as they relate to the maintenance of international peace and security, we express the hope that you will call upon the governments of the countries in question to halt their continuing aggression against Iraq forthwith and that you will urge the regional parties that are facilitating its continuation to desist from doing so.

 

 

(Signed) Naji Sabri
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Enclosure

 

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

 

 

               I.    Northern region

 

 

           In the northern region 70 armed 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 1135 hours on 25 March 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 Amadiyah, Zakho, Aqrah, Rawanduz, Dohuk, Irbil and Ayn Zalah 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.

2.        At 1430 hours on 27 March 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 eight armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Amadiyah, Baibo, Dohuk, Ayn Zalah, Aqrah and Zakho areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1450 hours, drove them off.

3.        At 1035 hours on 4 April 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, Baibo, Aqrah, Dohuk, Ayn Zalah, Mosul, Tall Afar and Sinjar 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.

4.        At 1420 hours on 9 April 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 Baibo, Amadiyah, Aqrah, Dohuk, Ayn Zalah, Zakho, Rawanduz, Irbil and Tall Afar areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1650 hours, drove them off.

5.        At 1530 hours on 9 April 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 Zakho, Amadiyah, Baibo and Dohuk 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.

6.        At 1420 hours on 10 April 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, Mosul, Irbil and Tall Afar areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1720 hours, drove them off.

7.        At 1440 hours on 11 April 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 10 armed sorties, were supported by an AWACS aircraft operating inside Turkish airspace and overflew the Zakho, Amadiyah, Dohuk, Aqrah and Baibo areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1540 hours, drove them off.

 

 

             II.    Southern region

 

 

           In the southern region 297 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 1110 hours on 16 March 2002, United States and British 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 20 armed sorties, 12 of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and eight 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 Ashbajah, Jalibah, Salman, Busayyah, Nasiriyah, Lasaf and Suq al-Shuyukh areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1240 hours, drove them off.

2.        At 1230 hours on 19 March 2002, United States and British 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 30 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, Artawi, Busayyah, Jalibah, Nasiriyah, Salman, Samawah, Lasaf and Ashbajah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1230 hours, drove them off.

3.        At 1405 hours on 22 March 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 17 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, Busayyah, Jalibah, Artawi, Salman and Ashbajah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1530 hours, drove them off.

4.        At 1425 hours on 23 March 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, eight of them 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, Lasaf, Salman, Jabayish, Basrah and Ashbajah 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.

5.        At 1505 hours on 24 March 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 18 armed sorties, four 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, Lasaf, Salman and Artawi areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1635 hours, drove them off.

6.        At 2045 hours on 29 March 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 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 Busayyah, Salman, Ashbajah, Jalibah and Artawi 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.

7.        At 1505 hours on 4 April 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 23 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 Basrah, Artawi, Jalibah, Nasiriyah, Qurnah, Salman, Ashbajah and Shatrah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1700 hours, drove them off.

8.        At 1645 hours on 5 April 2002, United States and British 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 21 armed sorties, eight of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 13 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, Salman, Lasaf, Nasiriyah, Shatrah, Amarah and Qal`at Salih areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1830 hours, drove them off.

9.        At 1610 hours on 6 April 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 19 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 Nasiriyah, Qurnah, Jalibah, Busayyah, Salman, Jabayish and Artawi areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1740 hours, drove them off.

10.      At 1535 hours on 7 April 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 E-2C command and control aircraft operating inside Kuwaiti airspace. They overflew the Busayyah, Salman, Ashbajah, Artawi, Jalibah and Qurnah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1700 hours, drove them off.

11.      At 1505 hours on 8 April 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 24 armed sorties, four of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 20 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 Jalibah, Busayyah, Nasiriyah, Salman, Gharraf, Ashbajah, Samawah and Islah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1650 hours, drove them off.

12.      At 0930 hours on 10 April 2002, United States and British 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 four 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 area. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1000 hours, drove them off.

13.      At 0935 hours on 11 April 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 12 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 Artawi, Jalibah, Salman, Busayyah and Ashbajah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1100 hours, drove them off.

14.      At 0905 hours on 12 April 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 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, Salman and Ashbajah areas. Our air defences, acting in exercise of the legitimate right to defend the homeland, engaged the aircraft and, at 1040 hours, drove them off.

15.      At 1145 hours on 15 April 2002, United States and British F-14, F-15, F-16, F-18 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 36 armed sorties, six of them from Saudi territory with the support of an AWACS command and control aircraft operating inside Saudi airspace and 30 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 Nasiriyah, Salman, Ashbajah, Jalibah, Lasaf, Artawi and Shatrah 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.