Iraqi no-fly zones

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The Iraqi no-fly zones (NFZs) were proclaimed by the United States, United Kingdom and France after the Gulf War of 1991 to protect Kurds in the north and Shiite Muslims in the south. Iraqi aircraft were forbidden from flying inside the zones. The policy was enforced by US, UK and French aircraft patrols until France withdrew in 1996.

There were two No-fly zones in Iraq. The northern one extended from the 36th parallel northwards, while the southern extended from the 33rd parallel southwards. The northern NFZ was controlled by Operation Provide Comfort and Operation Northern Watch. The southern NFZ was maintained by Operation Southern Watch.

When Operation Desert Storm ended in 1991, the United States wanted to ensure the safety of Kurds whom were fleeing from Iraqi persecution from the south. Therefore, the United States began Operation Provide Comfort. This operation essentially created a Northern No-Fly Zone to Iraqi military aircraft. The operation provided the Kurdish population with humanitarian aid and reassurance of safe skies. Operation Provide Comfort officially ended on the 31st of December 1996.

Following Operation Provide Comfort, the United States continued to watch over the northern skies with the launching of Operation Northern Watch on January 1st, 1997. Operation Northern Watch continued to provide air security to the Kurdish population in the north. American, British, and Turkish aircraft, continuously maintaining the integrity of the NFZ, received anti-aircraft fire almost daily. The operation ran until its conclusion on May 1st, 2003.

In the south, Operation Southern Watch was underway to watch over the persecuted Shi'ite populations. This operation was launched on August 27th, 1992 with the mission of preventing further inhumane acts against civilian populations. The operation continued until it transitioned to Operation Southern Focus in June of 2002. This new operation enacted stronger retaliatory strikes against the daily anti-aircraft fire against American aircraft and opened the way for increased intelligence gathering prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Some critics of the No-Fly Zones believed they were illegal and against international laws. The United States cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 as reason for the operations.

The NFZs effectively ceased to exist with the beginning of the Iraq War in March 2003.

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