United States European Command - ONW Leaflets dropped over Iraq

Coalition Drops First Leaflets in Northern Iraq
March 1, 2003

UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND -- INCIRLIK AIR BASE, TURKEY -- For the first time, coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone in northern Iraq dropped informational leaflets near Iraqi anti-aircraft-artillery batteries at approximately 8:45 a.m. EST.

Called Operation Northern Watch (ONW), the coalition forces monitoring the Iraqis for compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions dropped 240,000 leaflets on two locations approximately 10 miles northeast of Mosul. Both locations have a history of Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery firing on coalition jets.

The front message on the leaflets warns the Iraqi military, "Do not track or fire on coalition aircraft." The backside of the leaflets read, "Any hostile action by Iraqi air defenses toward coalition aircraft will be answered by immediate retaliation. 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.

Coalition aircraft have been enforcing the northern no-fly zone for approximately 12 years. 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 Drops Leaflets in Northern Iraq
March 10, 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 9:25 a.m. EST.

Called Operation Northern Watch (ONW), the coalition forces monitoring the Iraqis for compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions dropped 240,000 leaflets on two locations approximately 10 miles northeast of Mosul. Both locations have a history of Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery firing on coalition jets.

The front message on the leaflets warns the Iraqi military, "Do not track or fire on coalition aircraft." The backside of the leaflets read, "Any hostile action by Iraqi air defenses toward coalition aircraft will be answered by immediate retaliation. Iraqi air defense positions which fire on coalition aircraft or activate air defense radar will be attacked and destroyed."

This is the second time in the 12-year history of the northern no-fly zone that coalition forces have dropped leaflets. The previous leaflet drop was northeast of Mosul, March 1.

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.

* Leaflets, same as before.

Coalition Drops Leaflets in Northern Iraq
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.