Operation Northern Watch

Three SEPECAT Jaguar GR3A fighter aircraft of No. 54 Squadron of the Royal Air Force during Operation Northern Watch (2002)

An American F-15E fighter aircraft over northern Iraq during Operation Northern Watch (1999)

The Operation Northern Watch (ONW) was an operation of Combined Task Force (CTF) to enforce a no-fly zone in Iraq north of the 36th parallel. Armed forces from the United States , the United Kingdom, and Turkey were involved. The aim was to protect the Kurdish population in the area from attacks by the Iraqi Air Force in accordance with Resolution 678 , Resolution 687 and Resolution 688 of the United Nations Security Council.

The multinational operation began on January 1, 1997 and ended on March 17, 2003. The headquarters of the operation was located at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. Several incidents with the Iraqi air defense occurred during the period of operation. In several cases, Iraqi radar stations, anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft missile sites were attacked and destroyed with AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface missiles and Paveway precision bombs . Among other things, on January 7, 1999 an American F-16C / J with a HARM missile destroyed an Iraqi anti-aircraft missile system of the Roland type near Mosul and on January 11, 1999 two F-15E destroyed an anti-aircraft missile system 2K12 "Square" (SA- 6 Gainful) with precision bombs.

Around 1,400 soldiers continuously took part in the operation. Around 45 aircraft of various types were used: