Op Habitat (Iraq)

Australian Deployment Dates: 1 May 1991 to 30 June 1991.

Strength: 75 ADF personnel.

Area of Operations (AO): Eastern Turkey and Northern Iraq.

Purpose: Following the cease fire between Coalition military forces and Iraq, Resolution 688 authorised humanitarian assistance to Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq. The Kurds had for many decades been persecuted by the regime of Saddam Hussein and required urgent humanitarian assistance.

Comments: Some 72 Army and 3 RAAF medical, dental, engineering and logistic personnel were deployed to Turkey and Iraq to assist Kurdish refugees. Although this was a humanitarian mission, elements of the ADF were engaged by Iraqi Republican Guard units which had retreated from the the border of Saudi Arabia soon after the commencement of the Gulf War.

Veteran Entitlement Act (VEA) : Schedule 3; 1 May 1991 to 30 June 1991.

Service Type: Non-warlike.

Gazette: S64 of 28 Feb 02

Awards & Qualifying Periods:

• Australian Service Medal (ASM) (1975 - Present) with Clasp “IRAQ”. Posted 30 days; Visitor / TDY - 30 days.

ASM 75 +

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