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Coalition Drops Leaflets in Northern Iraq

March 14, 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 8:50 a.m. EST.

As part of Operation Northern Watch, the coalition forces dropped 120,000 leaflets near Iraqi forces stationed by the Ayn Zalah airfield. This location has 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 fourth 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.

Yesterday, coalition aircraft dropped 240,000 leaflets with the same message near Tall Afar and Saddam Lake.

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.

See Leaflets