January 1993 airstrikes on Iraq facts for kids

Quick facts for kids January 1993 Air Strikes on Iraq
Part of the Iraqi no-fly zones conflict and the Persian Gulf Conflicts
An F-16C of the 23rd FS in 1992, similar to the one that 1st Lt. Craig Stevenson flew on Jan 17, 1993.
Date January 13, 1993 - January 22, 1993 Location Southern Iraq, Northern Iraq Result Indecisive (Operation Southern Watch Continues)
Belligerents
United States  United Kingdom  France	Iraq
Commanders and leaders
George H. W. Bush (Before January 21) Bill Clinton (After January 21) Colin Powell	Saddam Hussein
Strength
1 Kitty Hawk Class Carrier 3 Cruisers 1 Frigate 71 Carrier Aircraft Numerous Land Based Aircraft	Numerous AAA and SAM defenses MiG-23 Flogger (Iraqi Air Force)
Casualties and losses
None	1 soldier killed
3 civilians dead and 7 wounded (Iraqi claims)

During January 1993, numerous coalition airstrikes occurred against Iraq in response to actions by the latter predominantly due to the No-Fly Zone in Southern Iraq.

Prelude

Just after the Gulf War ended, there were fears that Iraq might invade Kuwait again, especially after Iraqi TV/Radio declared on August 2, 1992 that Kuwait was their 19th province and that they would invade again. (The 2nd Anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait). This coupled with some incidents of Iraqi troops making incursions and exchanging fire with Kuwaiti troops led to the No-Fly Zone on the 32nd Parallel being enacted on the August 26, 1992, with CVW-5's F/A-18C Hornets from the USS Independence CV-62 being the first to fly into the zone. There were at least 70 fixed aircraft of the Iraqi Air Force assumed to be based in the No-Fly Zone at the time.

On December 27, 1992 at 10:42am, two Iraqi MiG-25PDS Foxbat-Es entered the No-Fly Zone. 65 seconds later, one of them was shot down by an F-16DG (90-0778) of the 33rd FS (363rd FW) in what was also the first air to air kill for the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the first BVR kill for the F-16 and the first air to air kill by an American F-16.

January 13 Air Strike

On the evening 13th of January, in response to the moving of SAM sites into Southern Iraq in the No-Fly Zone, 75 Coalition along with 35 aircraft from CVW-15 on the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) took off to attack the sites, making a total of 115 aircraft in all. The USAF aircraft included six F-117As from the 49th FW, eight F-16C Block 42 aircraft from the 33rd FS (363rd FW), four F-111Fs, three EF-111As, six F-4Gs, ten F-15Es from the 335th FS (4th FW) and eight F-15Cs from the 1st FW flying escort. They were joined with six RAF Tornado GR.1 aircraft (four had FLIR designators) as well as six French Mirage 2000 aircraft for Combat Air Patrol and numerous support aircraft like AWACS.

NL-405, one of the aircraft of VFA-27 that took part in the January 13, 1993 air strike, was loaded with Mk.83 bombs.

There were also around 35 aircraft from the Kitty Hawk including eight A-6E SWIP aircraft from VA-52 (which employed GBU-10 laser guided bombs), eight F/A-18As from VFA-27 and VFA-97 (including CDR. Kevin J. Thomas, Commanding Officer of VFA-97 who led the air strike as well as two of the F/A-18As for escort and four providing SAM Suppression), four F-14As from VF-51 and VF-111, three EA-6B Prowlers from VAQ-134, an S-3B from VS-37 for ESM support, and two Hawkeyes from VAW-114. Targets included Radar Stations and Integrated Air Operations Centers at Tallil Air Base (known to house MiG-29s), Al Amara, Najaf, Samawah and four mobile anti-aircraft SAM/AAA sites.

At around 6:45PM, the air strikes began when the Kitty Hawk launched her strike package. The air strikes only lasted 30 minutes and only light AAA was encountered. The results of the strike were considered poor with many targets being missed. The Aerospace Daily claimed that of four mobile missile batteries, only one was destroyed. Of the six F-117As, two lost laser lock, one failed to get a positive identification of the target, and one F-117 hit the wrong target. An F-15E also returned back to base with its ordnance due to cloud cover preventing a laser-guided drop. An Iraqi News Agency soon reported that an Iraqi soldier as well as three civilians were killed as well as 7 civilians wounded.

Action on January 17

A cruise missile strike was launched by the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup on the 17th on the Zafraniyah Nuclear Fabrication Facility, 8 miles or 13km southwest of Baghdad. Around 44 to 45 TLAMs were launched with 37 hitting their intended targets. 1 Tomahawk was hit by AAA and crashed into the Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, killing 2 civilians.

On that same day, a formation of F-16Cs along with F-4Gs were to conduct reconnaissance operations, provide SAM suppression for British Jaguars investigating a newly discovered SA-6 SAM site, Combat Air Patrol operations until being relieved by another F-4/F-16 Wild Weasel team and return to base. Total sortie length was scheduled for just under five hours. During the phase that required the taking out of SAM sites, an F-16C Block 30 of the 23rd FS (52nd FW) piloted by 1st Lt. Craig Stevenson saw the unmistakable radar return of an enemy aircraft rolling down the runway, heading in his direction, about 30nm away. With the help of AWACS, he shot down the enemy aircraft with an AIM-120 AMRAAM (the second air to air kill for the AMRAAM and the F-16) which was originally believed to be a MiG-29B Fulcrum-A (later confirmed to be a MiG-23 Flogger). Originally, the first AMRAAM didn't fire and stayed on the left wing requiring Stevenson to fire his second one. The live missile on the left wing was a concern for him, posing a risk to when he required to refuel from a KC-135 tanker.

January 19 Incident

On the 19th, an F-4G fired an AGM-88 HARM at an Iraqi SAM after a 14 nm lock-on east of Mosul. 1 hour later, an F-16C was fired on by AAA but not hit. 2 hours later a section of F-16C's were fired on and dropped cluster bombs on guns north of Mosul. Iraq then later called a cease fire to celebrate Clinton's inauguration which took place on the 20th of January.

January 21/22 Incident

Around 17 hours after President Bill Clinton took office, a hunter kill team of 2 F-4Gs and 2 F-16Cs struck an Iraqi SAM site at on the 21st of January 1993 at 5:09AM EST (January 22, 1993 - 1:09AM). The two Wild Weasel (F-4G) aircraft were escorting French Air Force Mirage F1 aircraft configured for Reconnaissance. These Mirages were on a "routine monitoring mission" north of the 36th Parallel near Mosul when the aircraft attacked by ground fire. The aircraft were then painted by an Iraqi SAM radar and in return, one of the F-4Gs launched an AGM-88 HARM missile 12 miles or 19 km north of Mosul.

January 23 Incident

On January 23, 1993, Iraqi AAA allegedly (flashes were reported from the air) fired at an Intruder from VA-52 as well as two F/A-18As (all from the Kitty Hawk). In retaliation, the Intruder dropped a GBU-16 Paveway II LGB, destroying it.