Operation Desert Thunder
Encyclopedia
Operation Desert Thunder was a response to threats by Iraq's president Saddam Hussein
to shoot down U-2 spy planes
, and violate the no-fly zone
set up over his country. The operation was designed to bring stability to the region by bringing in a military presence during the negotiations between Iraq and the UN over weapons of mass destruction
. The name Operation Desert Thunder has been applied to the build-up of forces in the Persian Gulf
region during 1998.
If an actual attack had been ordered and executed, the name would have changed to Operation Desert Viper.
In the autumn of 1997 CENTCOM established a force of 35,000 air, land, and sea forces in response to Iraq's non-compliance of UN resolutions. CENTCOM Commander-in-Chief General Anthony Zinni
established a permanent Coalition/Joint Task Force (C/JTF) at Camp Doha Kuwait under command of Lieutenant General Tommy Franks
to lead this force. The coalition would consist of forces from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom, United States, and Kuwait.
On 18 January 1998 additional forces were brought in to support the US-led coalition forces in the region. The U.S. 3d Infantry Division
of Fort Stewart
, Georgia
deployed 4000 personnel and 2900 short tons of equipment on 120 aircraft. The 366th Air Expeditionary Wing from Mountain Home Air Force Base
, ID replaced the 347th Air Expeditionary Wing of Moody AFB, Georgia
on 1 April 1998 after 120 days of deployment. The USS George Washington (CVN-73)
joined the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) (relieved on-station by the USS Independence (CV-62)
a few months later) in the Gulf. Combined with the British HMS Invincible (R05)
and HMS Illustrious (R06)
, there were now 50 ships and submarines with 200 naval aircraft and 2 floating brigades (1 Army and 1 Marine) in the Persian Gulf
.
This combined muscle forced Saddam to back down, and the Independence returned to Yokosuka, Japan in early June 1998. But in November 1998, the U.S. 3d Infantry Division
would returned to Kuwait. Using the C/JTF already in place advanced elements of the U.S. 3d Infantry Division
and 32nd Air & Missile Defense Command, Theatre Support Command, and Air Support Operations Center deployed. In addition the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
joined the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force
already in place. During this build-up, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
flew to Baghdad
to meet with Saddam Hussein
and negotiated to allow uninterrupted inspections.
On 11 November 1998, further non-compliance by Iraq resulted in the initiation of Operation Desert Thunder. CENTCOM moved its forces into position to initiate strikes into Iraq. 2300 additional personnel were deployed during this operation. Saddam Hussein again backed down.
In December 1998, Iraq again refused to allow inspections and Operation Desert Fox
began. Several key Iraqi facilities and specialized equipment were destroyed during several days of combat operations. This set back the Iraqi ballistic missile program by several years.
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
to shoot down U-2 spy planes
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
, and violate the no-fly zone
No-fly zone
A no-fly zone is a territory or an area over which aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in a military context, somewhat like a demilitarized zone in the sky, and usually prohibit military aircraft of a belligerent nation from operating in the region.-Iraq,...
set up over his country. The operation was designed to bring stability to the region by bringing in a military presence during the negotiations between Iraq and the UN over weapons of mass destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
. The name Operation Desert Thunder has been applied to the build-up of forces in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
region during 1998.
If an actual attack had been ordered and executed, the name would have changed to Operation Desert Viper.
In the autumn of 1997 CENTCOM established a force of 35,000 air, land, and sea forces in response to Iraq's non-compliance of UN resolutions. CENTCOM Commander-in-Chief General Anthony Zinni
Anthony Zinni
Anthony Charles Zinni is a retired four-star General in the United States Marine Corps and a former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command...
established a permanent Coalition/Joint Task Force (C/JTF) at Camp Doha Kuwait under command of Lieutenant General Tommy Franks
Tommy Franks
Tommy Ray Franks is a retired general in the United States Army. His last Army post was as the Commander of the United States Central Command, overseeing United States Armed Forces operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East...
to lead this force. The coalition would consist of forces from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom, United States, and Kuwait.
On 18 January 1998 additional forces were brought in to support the US-led coalition forces in the region. The U.S. 3d Infantry Division
U.S. 3d Infantry Division
The 3rd Infantry Division is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. It is a direct subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and U.S. Army Forces Command...
of Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily in Liberty County and Bryan County, but also extending into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties in Georgia, USA. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
deployed 4000 personnel and 2900 short tons of equipment on 120 aircraft. The 366th Air Expeditionary Wing from Mountain Home Air Force Base
Mountain Home Air Force Base
Mountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in southwestern Idaho, United States. The base is in Elmore County, 12 miles southwest of the city of Mountain Home, which is 40 miles southeast of Boise, via Interstate 84.The host unit at Mountain Home since 1972...
, ID replaced the 347th Air Expeditionary Wing of Moody AFB, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
on 1 April 1998 after 120 days of deployment. The USS George Washington (CVN-73)
USS George Washington (CVN-73)
USS George Washington is an American nuclear-powered supercarrier, the sixth ship in the Nimitz class and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington, the first President of the United States...
joined the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) (relieved on-station by the USS Independence (CV-62)
USS Independence (CV-62)
The fifth USS Independence is a of the United States Navy. It was the fourth and final member of the Forrestal-class conventional-powered Supercarrier...
a few months later) in the Gulf. Combined with the British HMS Invincible (R05)
HMS Invincible (R05)
HMS Invincible was a British light aircraft carrier, the lead ship of three in her class in the Royal Navy. She was launched on 3 May 1977 and is the seventh ship to carry the name. She saw action in the Falklands War when she was deployed with , she took over as flagship of the British fleet when...
and HMS Illustrious (R06)
HMS Illustrious (R06)
HMS Illustrious is the second of three Invincible-class light aircraft carriers built for the Royal Navy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She is the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and is affectionately known as "Lusty" to her crew...
, there were now 50 ships and submarines with 200 naval aircraft and 2 floating brigades (1 Army and 1 Marine) in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
This combined muscle forced Saddam to back down, and the Independence returned to Yokosuka, Japan in early June 1998. But in November 1998, the U.S. 3d Infantry Division
U.S. 3d Infantry Division
The 3rd Infantry Division is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. It is a direct subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and U.S. Army Forces Command...
would returned to Kuwait. Using the C/JTF already in place advanced elements of the U.S. 3d Infantry Division
U.S. 3d Infantry Division
The 3rd Infantry Division is a United States Army infantry division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. It is a direct subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and U.S. Army Forces Command...
and 32nd Air & Missile Defense Command, Theatre Support Command, and Air Support Operations Center deployed. In addition the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
The II Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force consisting of ground, air and logistics forces capable of projecting offensive combat power ashore while sustaining itself in combat without external assistance for a period of 60 days. The II Marine Expeditionary Force is...
joined the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force
1st Marine Expeditionary Force
The I Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps primarily composed of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 1st Marine Logistics Group...
already in place. During this build-up, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
flew to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
to meet with Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
and negotiated to allow uninterrupted inspections.
On 11 November 1998, further non-compliance by Iraq resulted in the initiation of Operation Desert Thunder. CENTCOM moved its forces into position to initiate strikes into Iraq. 2300 additional personnel were deployed during this operation. Saddam Hussein again backed down.
In December 1998, Iraq again refused to allow inspections and Operation Desert Fox
Operation Desert Fox
The December 1998 bombing of Iraq was a major four-day bombing campaign on Iraqi targets from December 16–19, 1998 by the United States and United Kingdom...
began. Several key Iraqi facilities and specialized equipment were destroyed during several days of combat operations. This set back the Iraqi ballistic missile program by several years.