Operation Southern Watch was initiated to monitor and enforce the no-fly zone over Iraq after the Gulf War ended in 1991. The coalition forces, comprising the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, the Royal Air Force, and the French Air Force, aimed to curb Iraqi military capabilities and assert Western dominance in the region. On this particular day, a coordinated air assault was launched against various Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) and surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites located in Southern Iraq. The operation involved a combination of precision-strike aircraft and advanced missile technology, underscoring the technological superiority of coalition forces.

The attack not only targeted specific military installations but sought to send a strategic message to Iraq regarding the consequences of violating UN resolutions. The coalition's commitment to enforcing the no-fly zone aimed to prevent Iraqi aggression towards its neighbors, particularly Kuwait, and to assure the safety of northern Iraq, where Kurdish populations faced threats from Saddam Hussein's regime. This particular sortie involved careful planning and execution, utilizing intelligence gathered from reconnaissance missions in the preceding days to identify key strategic installations.

Operation Southern Watch was thus a critical part of the larger security framework that defined U.S. engagement in the Gulf region. It contributed to the ongoing efforts to stabilize a volatile area while establishing a precedent for future military operations that would continue to involve international coalitions operating under specific rules of engagement and UN mandates.