Operation Provide Comfort was a military operation by the United States, starting on 24 July 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War. July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... 1991 (MCMXCI in Roman) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

Operation Provide Comfort, N. Iraq, 1991. Lt. Col. John Abizaid (L) speaking with some Kurds.

A No-Fly Zone was established by the U.S., the U.K. and France north of the 36th parallel. This was enforced by American and British aircraft. Also included in this effort was the delivery of humanitarian relief and military protection of the Kurds by a small American ground force based in Turkey. Also participating was the 3/325 Airborne Battalion Combat Team, based in Vicenza, Italy, and commanded by then-Lt. Col. John Abizaid. Image File history File links Col_kurd_small. ... General Abizaid John Philip Abizaid (born April 1, 1951) is a general in the United States Army and the Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing American military operations in a 25-country region, from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia, covering much of the Middle East. ... Categories: Stub | 2003 Iraq conflict ... For an explanation of terms such as Great Britain, British, United Kingdom, England, Scotland and Wales, see British Isles (terminology) Motto: Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Anthem: God Save the Queen4 Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English de facto... U.S. paratroopers jump into Australia on a military training exercise. ... Vicenza by night Vicenza (population 107,223) is the capital of the province of Vicenza in the Veneto region, northern Italy at the northern base of the Monti Berici, straddling the Bacchiglione. ... General Abizaid John Philip Abizaid (born April 1, 1951) is a general in the United States Army and the Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing American military operations in a 25-country region, from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia, covering much of the Middle East. ...

At the tip of the spear was the United States Marine Corp's 24 MEU led by General James Jones, later to become Commadant of the Marine Corps.

On 14 April 1994, two United States Air Force F-15 Eagle fighters on a Provide Comfort patrol mistakenly downed two United States Army Blackhawk helicopters carrying twenty-six Allied personnel, killing all aboard. April 14 is the 104th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (105th in leap years). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV in Roman) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces. ... The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) F-15 Eagle is an American-built all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sikorsky S-70. ...

The operation ended officially on 31 December 1996 at the request of the Islamic Government of Turkey who wanted to improve relations with Iran and Iraq. December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Miscellaneous

• Image of Operation Provide Comfort commemorative coin, issued to some participating US soldiers

External links

• http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/ops/provide_comfort.htm