Operation Provide Comfort

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Operation Provide Comfort II 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.

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

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, British and French aircraft. Included in this effort was the delivery of humanitarian relief and military protection of the Kurds by a small Allied (US/UK/Fr/Tu) 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.

While Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm were run by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Operation Provide Comfort came under the authority of the US European Command (EUCOM), headquartered in Vaihingen, Germany. On-ground humanitarian aid was provided by the 353rd Civil Affairs Command, Bronx, New York, and by subordinate units 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, Green Bay, Wisconsin and 431st Civil Affairs BN, Little Rock, Arkansas. These units were relocated to Turkey and Northern Iraq after completing missions in Kuwait. The base camps that were established for Kurdish refugees were nicknamed Camp Jayhawk and Camp Badger after college mascots.

Overall command of the operation was Lt. General John Shalikashvili, later to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

At the tip of the spear was the United States Marine Corps' 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit led by General James L. Jones, later to become Commandant of the Marine Corps. The MEU was under the command of Commodore Turner, commander, Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 1-91, aboard his flagship USS Guadalcanal.

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.

The operation ended officially on 31 December 1996 at the request of the Government of Turkey who wanted to improve relations with Iran and Iraq.