ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF TURKEY’S CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH

Abstract

Some political elements in Turkey have been concerned in recent years about the use of the Turkish air base at Incirlik by Western powers to enforce a ‘no fly’ zone over the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq. The aim of the operation is to protect the Kurdish people of the region from the revenge of the Saddam Hussein regime, and to monitor Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council directives. In the past, the operation was known as Operation Provide Comfort OPC and the states taking part in it were, apart from Turkey, the USA, the UK and France. Since 1 January 1997, OPC has been replaced by Operation Northern Watch ONW . The French have not taken part in ONW, leaving the combat aircraft of the USA and the UK to fly missions over Northern Iraq in support of ONW. Turkish personnel do not fly over Iraq as part of ONW, but do contribute to the operation within Turkey and Turkish airspace.