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Coalition Drops Leaflets in Northern Iraq

EUCOM

March 13, 2003

UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND -- Coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone in northern Iraq dropped informational leaflets near Iraqi anti-aircraft-artillery batteries at approximately 8:41 a.m. EST.

Called Operation Northern Watch, the coalition forces dropped 240,000 leaflets on two locations - one south of Tall Afar and the other southwest of Saddam Lake. Both locations have a history of Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery firing on coalition jets.

The front message on the leaflets warns the Iraqi military, "Before you engage coalition aircraft, think about the consequences." The backside of the leaflets read, "Think about your family. Do what you must to survive."

This is the third time leaflets have been dropped by the coalition during their 12-year history of enforcing the northern no-fly zone and monitoring the Iraqis for compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions.

On Monday, coalition aircraft dropped leaflets at the same locations. The previous leaflets warned "Do not track or fire on coalition aircraft. Iraqi air defense positions which fire on coalition aircraft or activate air defense radar will be attacked and destroyed."

Based out of Incirlik AB, Turkey, Operation Northern Watch is conducted by a coalition of more than 1,400 U.S., United Kingdom and Turkish forces with more than 50 aircraft used to patrol the northern no-fly zone.

Since Dec. 28, 1998, Saddam Hussein has opted to challenge this enforcement by firing at coalition aircraft with surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery and by targeting them with weapons radar. Coalition aircraft are fired upon by Saddam Hussein's forces nearly every time they patrol the no-fly zone in northern Iraq.