Operation Northern Watch (ONW), the successor to Operation Provide Comfort, was a Combined Task Force (CTF) charged with enforcing its own no-fly zone above the 36th parallel in Iraq. Its mission began on 1 January 1997.
The coalition partners of 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. forces of some 1,100 U.S. personnel, included airmen, sailors, soldiers, and Marines, as well as aircraft from every arm of the United States Armed Forces.
123rd Fighter Squadron deployed to Incirlik AB, in support of Operation Northern Watch
The original mandate from the Turkish government allowed the operation to continue for six months. Turkey subsequently approved two 6-month extensions, but indicated that it would not become a permanent mission.
For the first year of the mission, northern Iraq was quiet, with no combat between Coalition aircraft and Iraqi forces.
Operation Northern Watch forces did not take part in Operation Desert Fox in December 1998. After Desert Fox, Iraq announced they would no longer recognize the no-fly zones and urged their troops to attack Coalition aircraft. On 28 December 1998 Iraq fired SA-3 surface to air missiles against coalition aircraft patrolling the northern no-fly zone. In response, U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-15Es, F-16CJs, and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) EA-6Bs launched anti-radiation missiles and dropped precision guided munitions (PGMs) on the SA-3 ground-based missile site that fired on the ONW aircraft, and destroyed it.From December 1998 to March 1999, U.S. aircraft over northern Iraq came under almost daily fire from Iraqi surface-to-air missile sites and anti-aircraft guns. U.S. aircraft responded by bombing Iraqi air-defense sites, using laser-guided bombs as well as AGM-88 HARM missiles and AGM-130 long range air-to-surface missiles. The first combat use of the AGM-130 was conducted during ONW.
Coalition aircraft flew patrols on an average of 18 days per month, and were usually fired upon. The most common threat was from anti-aircraft guns. Despite Saddam Hussein offering a $14,000 reward for downing a Coalition aircraft, no warplanes were shot down.
Low level conflict continued up until the invasion of Iraq in 2003, although the number of response incidents declined dramatically after 1999. The final combat air patrol occurred on 17 March 2003 (from the Incirlik Air Base). Six weeks later the operation concluded with an official stand down on 1 May 2003.
A grand total of 36,000 sorties were flown during Operation Northern Watch, and 40,000 personnel had been deployed at some point during the operation.Operation Northern Watch was the longest combat operation in the history of the European Command.
Staff Sergeant Shawn Brown an F-15E Strike Eagle crew chief from the 494th Fighter Squadron RAF Lakenheath, coordinates the launch of an F-15E at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH 2002.
F-15E Strike Eagle from the 494th Fighter Squadron RAF Lakenheath launches on a mission loaded with AIM-9M sidewinders, AIM-120 (AMRAAM) missiles and 500lb. GBU-12 laser guided bombs, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH 2002.
A F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS), refuels from a KC135 Stratotanker aircraft from the 163rd Air Refueling Wing (ARW), California Air National Guard (ANG), during a mission in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH. The aircraft is armed with GBU-12 500-pound Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs, AGM-65 Maverick Missiles, and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
Two -15C Eagle aircraft from the 159th Fighter Wing (FW), New Orleans Air National Guard (ANG) taxi onto the flight line at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The 159th FW is part of the 122nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (AES) deployed at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in support on Operation NORTHERN WATCH.
Brigadier General (BGEN) Edward R. “Buster” Ellis, Co-Commander, Combined Task Force for Operation NORTHERN WATCH, performs a preflight inspection on his USAF F-15 Eagle aircraft at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The aircraft is armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).
Brigadier General (BGEN) Edward R. “Buster” Ellis, Co-Commander, Combined Task Force for Operation NORTHERN WATCH, gets assistance from his Crew Chief, USAF Senior Airman (SRA) Charles Schilling, as he straps into the cockpit of his USAF F-15C Eagle aircraft, before a mission at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.
AnF-15C Eagle aircraft from the 94th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS), takes off for a mission at Incirlik Air Base (AB) Turkey, during Combined Task Force (CTF)/Operation NORTHERN WATCH.
Maj. Jeff Woelbling, assigned to the 159th Fighter Wing (FW), New Orleans Air National Guard (ANG), gets assistance from his Crew Chief, USAF Senior Airman (SRA) Charles Schilling, as he straps into the cockpit of his aircraft at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, while preparing for a mission in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH.
Capt. Joseph Cuatero and Maj. Gary Burg during a refueling mission flown in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH. Flying with the 494 FS while deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey. The KC-135 Tanker is from the 163rd Air Refueling Wing California Air National Guard
Capt. Joseph Cuatero and Maj. Gary Burg during a refueling mission flown in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH. Flying with the 494 FS while deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey. The KC-135 Tanker is from the 163rd Air Refueling Wing California Air National Guard
Capt. Joseph Cuatero and Maj. Gary Burg during a refueling mission flown in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH. Flying with the 494 FS while deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey. The KC-135 Tanker is from the 163rd Air Refueling Wing California Air National Guard .
