Background
/ 1994 Drawdown / Yemen Evacuation
/ VIGILANT WARRIOR Prelude
USCENTCOM - Chapter 7: 1994 Operations
Background
/ 1994 Drawdown / Yemen Evacuation
/ VIGILANT WARRIOR Prelude
Operation Vigilant Warrior /
Maritime Intercept Operations /
Table of Contents
Operation SOUTHERN WATCH continued to enforce the no-fly zones over Iraq
Since the end of the Gulf War, Iraq has aggressively tried to suppress the Kurds in northern Iraq and Marsh Arabs in the south. Saddam Hussein has directed major division level counterinsurgency operations against the population in the marshes northwest of Basra. Brigade-sized ground and air forces, using combined arms tactics, carried out search and destroy operations. Additionally, large-scale engineering efforts have been used to divert waters away from the marshlands to facilitate combat operations. In response to these developments, the United Nations Security Council in 1992 passed Resolution 688 condemning Iraq's repression of its civilian population. To allow monitoring of compliance with Resolution 688, an Iraqi no-fly zone south of the 32nd parallel was established. Named Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, the coalition effort to enforce the no-fly zone, as well as banning any surface-to-air weapons presenting a threat to aircraft conducting the monitoring mission, has been in operation since August 1992. The United States, France, United Kingdom, and others have contributed forces or support for SOUTHERN WATCH.
Although Iraq challenged the no-fly zone several times in 1992 and 1993, the first nine months of 1994 passed without incident. Due to the relative calm in the Operation SOUTHERN WATCH area, Joint Task Force - South West Asia (JTF-SWA) began a force drawdown in February 1994, with the redeployment of the 49th Fighter Wing and other USCENTAF assets to CONUS from Khamis Mushiat, Saudi Arabia. The operation consisted of a four-phased redeployment of personnel and equipment, and involved the movement in February of 8 F-117's, approximately 300 personnel, and 958 short tons of equipment to home stations in the United States. In March, JTF-SWA continued the drawdown of forces in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH by redeploying 3 F-16, 3 F-15E, and 3 F-15C aircraft from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia to the United States.
In May 1994, the NCA directed USCINCCENT to provide military airlift support for noncombatant evacuation operations of U.S. citizens and designated third country nationals from Yemen. Operation SOUTHERN WATCH forces participated in this operation. Forces, which operated out of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, included 1 C-21 aircraft, 4 C-130 aircraft, 2 C-141 aircraft, 1 E-3 AWACS aircraft, 1 RC-135 RIVET JOINT aircraft, and 4 KC-135 tanker aircraft. A total of 630 personnel were evacuated from Yemen during the 7-9 May operation.
SOUTHERN WATCH operations continued without incident until October, 1994, when Iraq began troop movements south towards Kuwait, prompting U.S. and coalition forces to react with force deployments into theater under Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR.
SEE ALSO Operation Desert Strike (September, 1996).