Dotted lines show limits of the no-fly zones patrolled by British and U.S. aircraft. Reuters News Graphics
The United States and Britain declared no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War, saying they were designed to protect Kurds in the north and Shi'ite Muslims in the south from Baghdad's forces.Iraq does not recognise the zones and says Western aircraft have attacked civilian targets and killed innocent people.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (L) walks with U.S. Army Lt. General Kenneth Hunzeker after arriving at Baghdad International Airport December 10, 2009. Secretary Gates is in Iraq following a ...
