Provide Comfort

Operation Provide Comfort/Provide Comfort II
Part of Iraqi no-fly zones
Date March 1991 – 31 December 1996 Location Northern Iraq Result Establishment of Kurdish de facto autonomous region in northern Iraq
Belligerents
United States  United Kingdom  France  Australia  Netherlands  Turkey	Iraq
Commanders and leaders
John Shalikashvili	Saddam Hussein
Casualties and losses
2 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters shot down (friendly fire, 26 killed), Five U.S. service members killed and 25 wounded Three British service members wounded Two Netherlands service members wounded. Total: 31 Killed, 30 Wounded	90 killed 85 wounded Many air defense systems destroyed 1 MiG-23 Flogger shot down 1-2 Su-22 Fitters shot down

2 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters shot down (friendly fire, 26 killed), Five U.S. service members killed and 25 wounded
Three British service members wounded
Two Netherlands service members wounded.

Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations initiated by the United States and other Coalition nations of the Gulf War, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Gulf War and deliver humanitarian aid to them.

"Operation Haven" by the British name – was a British initiative, made at a time when the U.S. was fundamentally uninterested in any further taking of action in the Gulf. The British Prime Minister’s lobbying of European colleagues achieved NATO support, leveraging the necessary American air support. Then as Saddam’s retribution activities escalated, U.S. ground and logistic support was also achieved. This was a distinctly British operation though, with a proposed force of 6000 personnel, spearheaded by 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, with elements from the Army, Royal Air Force, and other coalition members. It was deemed dramatically successful, even though it appeared to be risky given the climate of those times. Operation Haven literally “invaded” Iraq. The Coalition's main task was to enter Northern Iraq, clear the designated area of the Iraqi threat and establish a safe environment for the Kurd refugees to return to their homes. The mission was both a military one and humanitarian; once security had been established, with the U.S. providing air support and specialist elements with other Coalition members, supply and rebuilding of infrastructure was then initiated. The ground mission within Iraq took 58 days to complete. Operation Provide Comfort/Haven officially ended shortly after and the enforcement of the 'No Fly Zone' continued to ensure security in the region.

The 1991 uprising in northern Iraq resulted in an Iraqi military response towards the rebels in both northern and southern Iraq. Fearing a massacre like what had happened during the 1988 Anfal campaign, millions of Kurds fled towards the Turkish border.

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Wikipedia