Operation Northern Watch (ONW) was the Combined Task Force (CTF) charged with enforcing the no-fly zone north of the 36th parallel in Iraq and monitoring Iraqi compliance with UN Security Council resolutions 678, 687, and 688. The northern no-fly zone was not an aggression against Iraq or a violation of its sovereignty, it was a necessary and legitimate measure to limit Iraq's aggressive air activities.
The ONW coalition partners -- the United States, United Kingdom, and Turkey -- provided approximately 45 aircraft and more than 1,400 personnel to support Operation Northern Watch. The joint U.S. force includes soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, all operating as part of the United States European Command.
ONW was headquartered at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey (link is .mil restricted). The co-commanders of the operation were Brigadier General Robin E. Scott USAF and Brigadier General Levent Turkmen AGAR TAF.
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Operation Northern Watch was the successor to Operation Provide Comfort, which officially ended in December, 1996. Operation Northern Watch began Jan. 1, 1997, with an initial mandate of six months. The Turkish parliament reviews and renews the ONW mandate semi-annually in June and December.
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has collected Security Council Resolutions on Iraq. This is not the official United Nations' source, but provides an easily accessible summary. All original Security Council Resolutions are available from the United Nations.
Three significant Security Council Resolutions on fostering international peace and stability in the Iraqi region have been adapted by FAS.
Updated: 20 February, 2004