1996
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic sign a secret agreement to enhance technological cooperation between their two countries.
--Roberto Godoy, "Saddam Passes Brazilian Missile Technology to Milosevic," Sao Paulo O Estado de Sao Paulo (Internet Version), 30 April 1999.

1996
Iraq admits that it maintained a project to establish a "dedicated" facility for the indigenous production of proscribed missile propellants for Al-Hussein missiles after the adoption of Security Council Resolution (SCR) 687.
--United Nations, "Report on Status of Disarmament and Monitoring," S/1999/94, 29 January 1999, <http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/unscmdoc.htm/>.

1996
The Iraqi military upgrades some of its 12 French F-1 Mirage fighter aircraft by adding the substantially improved Magic 2 air-to-air missiles. [NOTE: Romanian company Aerofina manufactures the Magic 2 missiles, and Aerofina contracted with Iraq to supply it with short-range missile components.]
--Lisa Hoffman, "Diminished Iraqi Military Still Capable of Missile Strikes," The Washington Times, 14 November 1998, p. A8.

1996
UNSCOM finds sample gyroscopes in the Tigris River that Wi'am Gharbiya obtained from the Russian company NIIKhSM.
--Anna Otkina, "Lessons of 'The Gyroscope Deal,'" Yaderny Kontrol Digest, No. 7 (Spring 1998), pp. 3-18.

1996-January 1997
Iraq orders machines and parts that could be used in the production of Scud missiles from British manufacturers in London, Southampton, Birmingham, and Reading.
--Tim Kelsey and Jason Burke, "Saddam in Secret UK Arms Offensive," Sunday Times (London), 19 January 1997; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

January 1996
During the on-site inspection of a missile facility, an UNSCOM inspection team discovers computer files containing a missile simulation program. The team learns that Iraq carried out a flight simulation of a three-stage missile in July 1992.
--United Nations, "Report on Status of Disarmament and Monitoring," S/1999/94, 29 January 1999, <http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/unscmdoc.htm/>.

January 1996
UNSCOM decides to modify its monitoring modalities to have Volga/SA-2 missiles tagged in a mode similar to other missiles in Iraq. [NOTE: When its monitoring system was initially implemented in 1993, UNSCOM believed it would be sufficient to utilize video observation and other means to monitor sites at which main maintenance activities are carried out on Volga/SA-2 systems. However, because Iraq's disclosed program included flight tests of this system, UNSCOM modifies its monitoring modalities.]
--United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996.

January 1996
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz visits Moscow and is asked by a Russian official about Iraq's long-range missile program. Aziz denies any knowledge of the program.
--Stewart Stogel, "Missile Plans by Iraq May Aim at Europe," The Washington Times, 16 February 1996, pp. A1, A19.

January 1996
UN officials allege that companies from France, Germany, and Eastern Europe continue to supply Iraq with proscribed missile-related items.
--James Bruce, "Playing Hide and Seek with Saddam," Jane's Defence Weekly, 3 January 1996, pp. 18-19.

1 January 1996
Russia exports "the Reys system" to Iraq, Czechoslovakia, and Syria. The VR-3 Reys is Russia's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system.
--Piotr Butowski, "Russian Reconnaissance UAVs-Part 2," Jane's Intelligence Review Pointer, January
1996, pp. 4, 5.

14 January 1996
UNSCOM-120/BM35 travels to Iraq to investigate a large number of missile guidance and control components pulled from the Tigris River in December 1995.
--United Nations, "First Report under Resolution 1051,"S/1996/258, 11 April 1996.

January 1996
A report from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asserts that Iraq's arsenal will include 10 Scud launchers and approximately 150 Scud missiles by 2000. Iraq could also deploy a "significant" number of short-range FROG missiles and launchers in any future attack against Israel.
--Alex Fishman, Yedi'ot Aharonot (Tel Aviv), 17 January 1996, p. 21; in "IDF Sees Iraqi, Syrian Missile Arsenals Growing," FBIS-NES-96-012, 17 January 1996.

Early February 1996
UNSCOM chairman Rolf Ekeus visits Moscow for discussions with members of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Russian-made missile components found in the Tigris River. Russian officials acknowledge that the gyroscopes might be of Russian origin but insist their government did not provide approval for a transfer of such goods to Iraq.
--David Hoffman, "Iraq Sought Russian Arms Technology; Probe Details Moscow Deal For Missile Equipment in '94," The Washington Post, 18 October 1998, p. A4; Vladimir Orlov and William C. Potter, "The Mystery of the Sunken Gyros," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Vol. 54 (November/December 1998), <http://www.bullatomsci.org/>; Anna Otkina, "Lessons of 'The Gyroscope Deal,'" Yaderny Kontrol Digest, No. 7 (Spring 1998), pp. 3-18.

14 February 1996
Rolf Ekeus says that UN inspectors suspect Iraq is attempting to develop a longer range version of the Al-Hussein missile that will exceed the 3,200-km-range capability. A US intelligence source claims that Iraqi development of missiles capable of reaching Europe is in its "rudimentary stages."
--Stewart Stogel, "Missile Plans by Iraq May Aim at Europe," The Washington Times, 16 February 1996, pp. A1, A19.

27 February 1996
Iraq submits a document entitled, "Draft full, final and complete declaration of the Iraqi national ballistic missile programme." In this document, Iraq provides "substantial" information on the activities of Project 1728, which is Iraq's major project for development and production of long-range missiles with liquid propellant engines. Iraq also provides information on foreign assistance for the project.
--United Nations, "First Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/258, 11 April 1996.

8 March 1996
UNSCOM-143/BM39 goes to Iraq to carry out a number of no-notice inspections. The team inspects a variety of sites including three administrative complexes in Baghdad, four military sites, and a number of industrial and storage locations.
--United Nations, "First Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/258, 11 April 1996.

8 March 1996
UN officials in Baghdad announce the discovery of documents and parts related to chemical or biological warheads.
--"Standoff as U.N. Team Is barred from Iraqi Site," The New York Times, 9 March 1996, p. A2; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.

8 March 1996
Iraqi officials prohibit UN inspectors from entering the Irrigation Ministry building in downtown Baghdad. Inspectors suspect that detailed military documents may be kept in this location.
--Leon Barkho, Reuters, 9 March 1996, in "Iraq Allows U.N. Arms Inspectors into Building," Executive News Service, 11 March 1996; R. Jeffrey Smith, "Iraq Bars U.N. Inspection Team Seeking Records," The Washington Post, 9 March 1996, p. A18, in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.

11 March 1996
Iraqi officials bar UN inspectors in Salabati from entering an underground barracks and a training facility for the Iraqi Republican Guard. UNSCOM intends to search the sites for documents related to Iraq's long-range missile programs. According to a US official, the installation may house banned launchers for Scud medium-range missiles.
--John M. Goshko, "U.N. Inspectors Enter Iraq Military Installation After 11-Hour Standoff, The Washington Post, 12 March 1996, p. A9; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.

14 March 1996
The Iraqis keep UNSCOM inspectors from entering a vehicle repair site belonging to Iraq's Republican Guards for three hours.
--Evelyn Leopold, Reuters, 18 March 1996, in "U.N. Reports Arms Disputes With Iraq In Last 10 Days," Executive News Service, 18 March 1996.

15 March 1996
The Iraqis block UNSCOM inspectors' access to the Republican Guard's command center for four hours.
--Evelyn Leopold, Reuters, 18 March 1996, in "U.N. Reports Arms Disputes With Iraq In Last 10 Days," Executive News Service, 18 March 1996.

17 March 1996
UNSCOM-143/BM39 (Ballistic Missile Team 39) ends its mission. The team finds no proscribed items or documents at the sites they inspected.
--United Nations, "First Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/258, 11 April 1996.

21 March 1996
UNSCOM suspects Iraq has hidden between 6 and 16 ballistic missiles, with warheads containing lethal nerve agents or germ weapons, which are capable of reaching Israel, Kuwait, or Saudi Arabia. According to Rolf Ekeus, UN investigators believe the medium-range missiles are probably stored on Iraqi trucks and shuttled between military installations to prevent their discovery.
--Jeffrey R. Smith, "Iraq Is Hiding 6 to 16 Scuds, U.N. Suspects," The Washington Post, 21 March 1996, p. A1; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.

27 March 1996
The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1051, which approves the export/import monitoring mechanism for Iraq. It demands that Iraq unconditionally meet all its obligations under the mechanism and cooperate fully with UNSCOM and the Director-General of the IAEA.
--United Nations, "First Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/258, 11 April 1996.

March-April 1996
Iraq repeatedly denies UNSCOM representatives the opportunity to question Lieutenant General Amir al-Saadi, who had previously been introduced as a specialist in the Iraqi missile program. UNSCOM seeks to speak with al-Saadi regarding Iraq's biological, chemical, and missile programs. Iraqi authorities tell UNSCOM that the earliest date al-Saadi will be available to speak with inspectors is 5 April 1996.
--Khalil Matar, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), 1 April 1996, p. 2; in "Iraq: Possible 'Obstruction' of UN Arms Investigation Panel Seen," FBIS-NES-96-064, 1 April 1996.

9 April 1996
The Russian government initiates a criminal investigation into the shipment of 240 missile-guidance gyroscopes and accelerometers to Iraq.
--Vladimir Orlov and William C. Potter, "The Mystery of the Sunken Gyros," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Vol. 54 (November/December 1998), <http://www.bullatomsci.org/>.

9 April 1996
Another source reports that the Investigation Department of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) initiates a criminal inquiry of the alleged "illegal export of the equipment applicable in the construction of missile delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction" by the Research and Testing Institute of Chemical and Building Machines (NIIKhSM).
--Anna Otkina, "Lessons of 'The Gyroscope Deal,'" Yaderny Kontrol Digest, No. 7 (Spring 1998), pp. 3-18.

11 April 1996
In its first report under SCR 1051, UNSCOM expresses its concern about Iraq's procurement of prohibited and dual-use items from abroad. The Commission highlights the elaborate systems established by Iraq to acquire components and machine tools for its missile production efforts.
--United Nations, "First Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/258, 11 April 1996.

11 April 1996
UNSCOM releases a report asserting that Iraq continues to conceal illegal missiles and equipment. The report claims that Iraq has provided the Commission with incomplete information and that Baghdad must "provide evidence to show that it no longer possesses proscribed weapons and related materials." Iraq denies UNSCOM's allegations and maintains it has complied with the UN's demands.
--Leon Barkho, Reuters, 22 April 1996; in "U.N. Arms Experts in Baghdad to Tag Missiles," Executive News Service, 22 April 1996.

22-27 April 1996
UNSCOM-141/BM38A conducts its mission, which includes identifying and tagging Iraqi missiles with ranges of less than 150km. The mission aims to ensure that Iraq will not modify the ranges of these missiles beyond what is permitted under the terms of the 1991 Gulf War ceasefire agreement.
--United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996.

29 April 1996
According to the Pentagon's Ashton Carter, UN officials have discovered that Iraq "designed and prepared for firing" a chemical warhead for a Scud surface-to-surface missile (SSM).
--James R. Asker, "Dirty Little Secrets," Aviation Week & Space Technology, 29 April 1996, p. 23.

May 1996
Iraq provides UNSCOM with a "full, final and complete disclosure on its missile programs." Iraq insists that it has provided all documents related to its missile programs. However, UNSCOM experts emphasize that Iraq must provide substantial evidence that would allow for the verifiable accounting of all missiles, launchers, propellants, and major components.
--United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996.

1 May 1996
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) is concerned that Iran may obtain from Iraq the technology to extend the range of its Scud missiles. US Commander-in-Chief of CENTCOM, General Binford Peay, says that Iraq still maintains more than 40 Scud missiles and may be able to extend their ranges. He also says that Iraq has tried to extend their ranges by strapping 5 Scud motors together to boost a second stage consisting of another Scud motor.
--"Iran's Tunnels Are Missile Sites, Says USA," Jane's Defence Weekly, 1 May 1996, p. 3.
10 June 1996
UNSCOM-150/BM41 arrives in Baghdad to conduct spot checks of several unspecified sites in Iraq.
--United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996; Reuters, 10 June 1996, in "More U.N. Arms Inspectors Arrive in Iraq," Executive News Service, 10 June 1996.

11-14 June 1996
The Iraqis prevent UNSCOM-150/BM41 from entering five military installations near Baghdad, citing national sovereignty and security concerns. UNSCOM suspects that Iraq hides materials, documents, and equipment related to its ballistic missile program at the sites. [NOTE: Two of five sites publicized are Abu Gharaib and Al-Qadissiyah.]
-- "Iraq Bars U.N. Arms Experts from 2 More Suspected Sites," The New York Times, 14 June 1996; "Iraq Bars U.N. Inspectors From A Weapons Site," The New York Times, 12 June 1996, p. A8; Leon Barkho, Reuters, 12 June 1996, in "Iraq to Bar U.N. Inspectors from 'Sensitive' Sites," Executive News Service, 12 June 1996; "Iraq Blocks More Arms Searches," Financial Times, 14 June 1996, p. 6; Leon Barkho, Reuters, 14 June 1996, in "U.N. Destroys Iraqi Germ Warfare Plant," Executive News Service, 17 June 1996.

12 June 1996
The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1060, which states that Iraqi actions, including the ongoing prevention of UNSCOM access to installations, are a clear violation of the provisions of the Council's resolutions.
--UNSCOM Chronology of Main Events, <http://www.un.org/>.

16 June 1996
UNSCOM-150/BM41 leaves Baghdad by the order of UNSCOM chairman Rolf Ekeus as a result of the ongoing stand-off at military installations near Baghdad.
--United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996.

19 June 1996
Rolf Ekeus goes to Baghdad to solve the stand-off caused by the Iraqi denial of access to five military installations from 11-14 June. Iraq and UNSCOM agree on a Joint Program of Action, which focuses on Iraq's full, final, and complete disclosures, as well as the means and techniques to verify them.
--S.V. Venkatraman, "Iraq: UN's Ekeus Claims 'Breakthrough' In Uncovering Arms Program," Agence France Presse (Paris), 24 June 1996, in FBIS-NES-96-123, 25 June 1996; United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996.

19 June 1996
Rolf Ekeus tells the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that Iraq still possesses six missiles with their launchers, and "perhaps more than that."
--"Iraq Still Armed and Dangerous," Agence France Presse, 19 June 1996, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>; UPI, 19 June 1996, in "U.N.: Iraq Made Missile Engines," Executive News Service, 19 June 1996.

20 June 1996
Major General Wafiq al-Samarra'i, former director of Iraqi military intelligence, tells Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that Iraq still possesses "scores of surface-to-surface missiles in the prohibited range." Al-Samarra'i cites "reliable information" that Iraq still possesses 40 Al-Hussein SSMs, 25 of which are "in a disassembled form," and 200 military germ substances.
--'Imad Al-Furaya, "Iraq: Oppositionist Claims to Reveal 'Truth' about Iraq CBW," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), 21 June 1996, p.6; in FBIS-NES-96-122, 21 June 1996.

22 June 1996
After four-day talks between Rolf Ekeus and Tariq Aziz, Iraq agrees to give UNSCOM "immediate, complete and unconditional access" to suspected weapons sites. Iraq also submits what it calls "final documents" on its biological and chemical weapon programs, but not on its missile programs. [NOTE: See 2 July 1996]
--Reuters, 10 June 1996, in "More U.N. Arms Inspectors Arrive in Iraq," Executive News Service, 10 June 1996; Leon Barkho, Reuters, 14 June 1996, in "U.N. Destroys Iraqi Germ Warfare Plant," Executive News Service, 17 June 1996; S.V. Venkatraman, Agence France Presse (Paris), 24 June 1996, in "Iraq: UN's Ekeus Claims 'Breakthrough' in Uncovering Arms Program," in FBIS-NES-96-123, 25 June 1996; "U.N.'s Inspector Wary Of Iraqis," The Washington Times, 25 June 1996, p. A15; "Iraq Gives UNSCOM 'Final Document' on Its Arms Programmes," Agence France Presse, 22 June 1996, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

24 June 1996
Rolf Ekeus says at a news conference that Iraq continues to hide weapons, components, and documentation. He says that Baghdad hides items by "static means" as well as on trucks that are able to travel around Iraq.
--Barbara Crossette, "Iraq Agrees to Ease Way for U.N. Monitors," The New York Times, 25 June 1996, p. A9; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

July 1996
According to Major General Wafiq al-Samarra'i, the former director of Iraqi military intelligence who defected to Syria in November 1994, Iraq's Special Security Apparatus uses 50 flatbed trucks to move physical evidence away from areas where UNSCOM inspectors might discover it.
--Paige Bowers, "Exile Says Iraqis Are Fooling U.N. on Missile Count," The Washington Times, 31 July 1996, p. A15.

July 1996
UNSCOM inspectors discover a convoy of trucks leaving a Special Republican Guard installation and carrying what the Iraqis admit looks like prohibited Scud missiles.
--R. Jeffrey Smith, "Iraq Accused of Hiding Prohibited Weapons," The Washington Post, 12 October 1996, p. A25.

1 July 1996
Rolf Ekeus states at a news conference in Kuwait City that Iraq may conceal between 6 and 16 long-range ballistic missiles capable of delivering conventional, biological and chemical warheads.
--"Iraq May Have 16 Banned Missiles," The Washington Times, 2 July 1996, p. A12; UPI, 1 July 1996, in "UN Inspections to Step up Iraq Activities," Executive News Service, 2 July 1996; Kuna (Kuwait), 1 July 1996, in "Kuwait: Rolf Ekeus Says Iraq Still Possesses Long-Range Missiles," FBIS-NES-96-128, 1 July 1996; Sulayman Al-'As'usi, MBC Television (London), 1 July 1996, in "Kuwait: Ekeus Sets Conditions For Lifting Iraqi Embargo," FBIS-NES-96-128, 1 July 1996; Al-Quds Al-'Arabi (London), 2 July 1996, p. 15, in "Iraq: Ekeus Missile Claim Said Part of U.S. Plan to Starve Iraqis," FBIS-NES-96-129, 2 July 1996; Reuters, 1 July 1996, in "Iraq May Still Be Hiding Prohibited Arms-Ekeus," Executive News Service, 2 July 1996; Reuters, 1 July 1996, in "Iraq May Have Up To 16 Banned Long-Range Missiles," Executive News Service, 2 July 1996; Reuters, 1 July 1996, in "Iraq May Have up to 16 Banned Missiles-U.N. Official," Executive News Service, 2 July 1996.

2 July 1996
Iraq submits its third "full, final and complete disclosure of its prohibited missile program." In this report, Iraq continues to state that it destroyed 14 operational mobile missile launchers in the summer of 1991.
--United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996; UNSCOM Chronology of Main Events; United Nations, "Note by the Secretary-General," S/1997/774, 6 October 1997.

7 July 1996
General Wafiq al-Samarra'i tells the London-based MBC television network that Iraq possesses 40 Al-Hussein missiles armed with conventional, chemical, and bacteriological warheads. He says Rolf Ekeus' calculation that Iraq possesses 6 to 16 long-range missiles is a low estimate.
--Nicole Tannuri, "Iraq: Defector Claims Regime Has 40 Missiles, Biological Shells," MBC Television (London), 7 July 1996, in FBIS-NES-96-131, 7 July 1996; Paige Bowers, "Exile Says Iraqis Are Fooling U.N. on Missile Count," The Washington Times, 31 July 1996, p. A15.

11 July 1996
According to an unidentified military source quoted by the national South Korean news agency, North Korea pushes to sell new missiles with a longer range to Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Libya.
--"Report: North Korea Sells Hundreds of Scud Missiles to Arab Countries," Associated Press, 11 July 1996, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

16 July 1996
Iraq refuses to allow UN weapons inspectors to search a weapons storage installation near Baghdad. The Iraqis stop the inspectors on the road to Saddam Hussein International Airport claiming they had entered a "presidential area." The inspectors are scheduled to search the installation for remnants and documentation from Iraq's missile, chemical, and biological weapons programs.
--"Iraq Again Blocks U.N. Arms Inspectors," The New York Times, 18 July 1996, p.A5; UPI, 23 August 1996, in "U.N. Reminds Iraq of Weapons Duties," Executive News Service, 26 August 1996; Evelyn Leopold, Reuters, 22 August 1996, in "Iraq And United Nations Clash Again On Arms Probe," Executive News Service, 26 August 1996.

18 July 1996
UNSCOM-155/BM42 ends their mission after Iraq refuses to grant them access to the installation near Baghdad for 60 hours.
--"Iraq Again Blocks U.N. Arms Inspectors," The New York Times, 18 July 1996, p. A5; "U.N. Plans to Find out How Iraq Hides Arms," The New York Times, 20 July 1996, p. A4.

19 July 1996
The United Nations establishes a special mission to study the techniques Iraq used to hide weapons. The UN Security Council orders Iraq to grant UNSCOM unrestricted access to its weapons facilities.
--"Iraq Again Blocks U.N. Arms Inspectors," The New York Times, 18 July 1996, p. A5; "U.N. Plans to Find out How Iraq Hides Arms," The New York Times, 20 July 1996, p. A4.

19-22 July 1996
UN Special Mission conducts its mission.
--United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996.

22 July 1996
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz agrees that his country will offer unconditional access to the military installations from which inspectors had previously been barred.
--"Iraq Again Blocks U.N. Arms Inspectors," The New York Times, 18 July 1996, p. A5.

28 July 1996
The London-based newspaper Al-Majallah quotes the Iraqi General Wafiq al-Sammara'i as saying that Iraq may be able to conceal Scud missiles by burying them in containers after removing sensitive components. Al-Sammara'I also says Iraq had imported approximately 1,000 Scud R17 missiles from the Soviet Union and subsequently established domestic production of those missiles and their engines in Iraq. Al-Sammara'i adds that the Iraqi regime's relationships with those Western firms that provided WMD-related technology and materials to Iraq in the past "are essentially there" and ready to be rekindled once sanctions are lifted.
--Ghalib Darwish, "Iraq: Al-Samarra'i Assesses Saddam's Position," Al-Majallah (London), 28 July 1996, pp. 30-31; in FBIS-NES-96-149, 3 August 1996.

3-4 September 1996
US ships and airplanes fire approximately 44 cruise missiles at Iraqi anti-missile air-defense sites to punish the Iraqi military for venturing into the Kurdish "safe haven" in northern Iraq. As many as 11 of the 15 intended targets are damaged or destroyed by the attacks, including the severe destruction of five out of eight Iraqi missile sites and the damage or abandonment of another. Two other missile sites suffer either minor or no damage. However, US defense analysts believe Iraq maintains mobile launching platforms and important facilities hidden in concrete bunkers.
--Dana Priest, "Iraq Rebuilt Missile System After U.S. Attacks, Official says," The Washington Post, 15 October 1996, p. A12, in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>; United States Information Agency: U.S. Policy on Iraq; Art Pine, "U.S. Pilots Are Expected to Face More Peril on Iraq Patrol," Los Angeles Times, 7 September 1996, p.12, in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.org/>.

4-10 September 1996
According to officials of the US Department of Defense, Iraqi forces are "jury-rigging" surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites using parts retrieved from the damage caused by US attacks.
--Philip Shenon, "Iraq Repairing Air-Defense Sites Hit by Missiles, Pentagon Says," The New York Times, 11 September 1996, p. A1; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.org/>.

7 September 1996
Iraq says it has fired missiles at US planes policing "no-fly" zones, but no targets have been hit.
--"Iraq Says It Fired Missiles at U.S. Planes Policing the 'No-Fly' Zones," The Washington Post, 8 September 1996, p. A.28; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.org/>.

8 September 1996
The United States threatens to launch an attack if Iraq does not stop rebuilding air-defense installations immediately.
--Robin Wright, "U.S. Warns Iraq to Halt Rebuilding of Air Defense Sites," Los Angeles Times, 9 September 1996, p. A1; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.
11 September 1996
Iraqi forces fire a missile at two US F-16s in the northern no-fly zone.
--"Crucial events in the confrontation between Iraq, U.S.," Associated Press, 17 December 1998.

13 September 1996
Pentagon officials say the Iraqis appear to have stopped their repair of the air-defense sites recently damaged by US missile attacks in southern Iraq.
-- Philip Shenon, "Iraq Orders Halt to Missile Strikes on American Jets," The New York Times, 14 September 1996, p.1; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.

16 September 1996
An Iraqi opposition group against the Saddam Hussein regime claims that Abdal Baqi al-Sadun, a member of the Regional Command of the Ba'ath Party in Iraq, said during a meeting with other area officials that the Iraqi regime has positioned long-range missiles with chemical warheads in the Diyala Governorate and will launch them against Kuwait "if Iraq faces a direct threat from the US." Al-Sadun says the missiles are mounted on trucks that are constantly being moved around in an effort to avoid US air-strikes. According to other sources from the Islamic revolution mujahadeen in Al-Basrah, trailers carrying SSMs set up camp north of Al-Amarah along with the 130th Artillery Brigade. The sources say Republican Guard armored units and several missile launchers have been deployed in the Gulf area in Umm Qasr District, and some units had been moved to Sanam Mountain on Iraq's border with Kuwait.
--Voice of Rebellious Iraq (Clandestine), 16 September 1996; in "Iraq: Opposition Radio--Regimen Directs Missiles toward Kuwait," FBIS Document FTS19960916000432, 16 September 1996.

16-17 September 1996
Iraq completes the rebuilding of the SAM network in southern Iraq that the United States had destroyed less than two weeks earlier.
--Dana Priest, "Iraq Rebuilt Missile System after U.S. Attacks, Official says," The Washington Post, 15 October 1996, p. A12; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.
20-24 September 1996
UNSCOM-162/BM43 conducts its mission, which concentrates on the material balance and the issue of unilateral destruction. The team deals with two topics: the operational missiles, and the equipment and components from Project 1728. [Note: Later, UNSCOM concludes that Iraq's statements in its full, final, and complete disclosure (FFCD) about these two topics are not complete and in certain aspects are even misleading. The Commission is particularly concerned that some key items Iraq declared as unilaterally destroyed in the summer of 1991 had in fact been diverted from destruction and concealed.]
--United Nations, "Second Report under Resolution 1051," S/1996/848, 11 October 1996.

11 October 1996
UNSCOM accuses Iraq of deliberately hiding significant quantities of proscribed ballistic missiles, poisonous gases, and germ weapons at those sites controlled by the country's elite military and security forces that UNSCOM has been continuously barred from inspecting.
--Jeffrey R. Smith, "Iraq Accused of Hiding Prohibited Weapons," The Washington Post, 12 October 1996, p. A25; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.

11 October 1996
Rolf Ekeus submits the UNSCOM semi-annual report on Iraq's missile and WMD programs to the UN Security Council. According to the report, Iraq still has not fully accounted for all of the banned weapons, items, or capabilities in its ballistic missile program. The report says UNSCOM "continues to believe that limited but highly significant quantities (of arms) may remain, as Iraq has not been able to account for a number of proscribed missiles and certain high-quality chemical warfare agents."
--R. Jeffrey Smith, "Iraq Accused of Hiding Prohibited Weapons," The Washington Post, 12 October 1996, p. A25.

6 November 1996
UNSCOM-158/BM45 begins excavation activities at a site where missile remnants are buried.
--United Nations, "Third Report under Resolution 1051," S/1997/301, 11 April 1997.

8 November 1996
Rolf Ekeus and UNSCOM inspectors say that Saddam Hussein continues to hide missiles and chemical weapons in the Iraqi desert.
--Jim Hoagland, "A Deadly Silence on Iraq," The Washington Post, 8 November 1996, p. A31; in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>.

14 November 1996
UNSCOM-158/BM45 removes approximately half of the 130 missile remnants from an excavation site at Taji and transports them to the Commission's Baghdad Monitoring and Verification Centre to prepare for their removal from the country. However, the Iraqi Lieutenant General Amer Rashid says that Iraq will not permit the Commission to export the excavated items from the country.
--United Nations, "Third Report under Resolution 1051," S/1997/301, 11 April 1997.

Mid-November 1996
Baghdad prevents UNSCOM inspectors from shipping abroad the remains of Iraqi long-range missile engines. The engines and other missile parts are due to be sent to a laboratory in the United States for analysis to determine if they were produced in Iraq or in the Soviet Union. UNSCOM has approximately 60 missile engines stored in boxes at its headquarters in Baghdad, while approximately 20-25 engines remain buried at two locations near the Iraqi capital.
--Reuters, 2 December 1996, in "Iraq Keen to End Missile Saga with UN Minister," Executive News Service, 2 December 1996; Anthony Goodman, Reuters, 6 December 1996, in "UN Demands Iraqi Cooperation Over Missile Engines," Executive News Service, 9 December 1996.

16 November 1996
Two American F-16 pilots fire missiles at Iraqi radar sites near the 32nd parallel in the southern no-fly zone.
--"Crucial events in the confrontation between Iraq, U.S.," Associated Press, 17 December 1998.

22 November 1996
UNSCOM Deputy Chairman Charles Duelfer arrives in Baghdad to discuss the Commission's weapons monitoring system with Iraqi officials, including Dhaif Abdul-Majeed, head of Iraq's Military Industrial Commission.
--Hassan Hafidh, Reuters, 22 November 1996; in "UN Arms Inspector Arrives in Baghdad," Executive News Service, 22 November 1996.

24 November 1996
Rolf Ekeus tells the Associated Press that Iraq may have removed "advanced" rocket engines from prohibited missiles and replaced them with useless, locally manufactured motors before destroying the missiles in 1991 and 1992. UNSCOM wants to test debris from 130 missile engines destroyed in that time period, but Iraqi officials have prevented the Commission from removing the material from the country.
--Adnan Malik, "U.N. Inspector: Iraq May Be Hiding Advanced Missile Engines," Associated Press, 24 November 1996; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

December 1996
According to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, the Romanian government ends all contracts and deals with Iraq, including missile transactions.
--"Romania Admits Making Arms Deals with Iraq," BBC News, 3 December 1998, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/>; "Arms Production, Exports and Decision-Making in Central and Eastern Europe, Bulgaria," Safer World, July 2002, <http://www.saferworld.co.uk/>.

2 December 1996
Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf says Baghdad is working to resolve a dispute with UNSCOM over Iraq's alleged possession of prohibited long-range missiles.
--Anthony Goodman, Reuters, 6 December 1996, in "UN Demands Iraqi Cooperation Over Missile Engines," Executive News Service, 9 December 1996; Reuters, 2 December 1996, in "Iraq Keen to End Missile Saga with UN Minister," Executive News Service, 2 December 1996.

8-11 December 1996
Rolf Ekeus travels to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi officials. He presents Iraqi documents that prove the Soviet Union exported specific missiles to Iraq, each with its own unique identification number. He also provides Iraqi data proving receipt of the missiles. However, Ekeus is unable to resolve the discrepancy between this import documentation and what UNSCOM has been able to verify during 15 hours of technical meetings with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.
--"Iraq Likely Has Hidden Missiles, Inspector Says," The Washington Times, 19 December 1996, p. A13; Anthony Goodman, Reuters, 18 December 1996, in "UN Believes Iraq Still Has 'Missile Force,'" Executive News Service, 27 December 1996; Michael Theodoulou, "UN Chief Says Iraq Arms Trip Failed," The Times (Online), <http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/>, 12 December 1996.

18 December 1996
Rolf Ekeus reports to the UN Security Council that he believes Iraq retains "a significant number of operational missiles, which could constitute a complete missile force," including support equipment, rocket launchers, fuel, and a command system to "make a missile force of significance." Inspectors suspect that there may be as many as 18 to 25 Iraqi missiles unaccounted for, an increase from their previous estimation of 16 missiles.
--Anthony H. Cordesman and Arleigh A. Burke, "Iraqi Military Forces Ten Years after the Gulf War," Center for Strategic Studies, August 2000, p.81; Barbara Crossette, "U.N. Says Iraq May Be Hiding More Missiles Than Suspected," The New York Times, 19 December 1996, p. A5, in Proquest, <http://www.proquest.umi.com/>; Anthony Goodman, Reuters, 18 December 1996, in "UN Believes Iraq Still Has 'Missile Force,'" Executive News Service, 27 December 1996; Michael Theodoulou, "UN Chief Says Iraq Arms Trip Failed," The Times (Online), 12 December 1996, <http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/>; UPI, 18 December 1996, in "Iraq Gives No Account of Missing Missiles," Executive News Service, 18 December 1996; Anthony Goodman, Reuters, 4 December 1996, in "UN's Ekeus to Check On Missiles During Iraq Trip," Executive News Service, 4 December 1996; Leon Barkho, Reuters, 11 December 1996, in "Iraq, UN Freeze Dispute over Missile Engines," Executive News Service, 11 December 1996; "Iraq Likely Has Hidden Missiles, Inspector Says," The Washington Times, 19 December 1996, p. A13.

Late December 1996
Klaus Loze, the Chairman of the German Bundestag's National Defense Committee, identifies Iraq, Iran, and Syria as countries developing missiles capable of reaching European targets using technology from North Korea.
--Chungang Ilbo (Seoul), 22 December 1996, p.1; in "South Korea, North Korea: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Reportedly Developing No-don-Type Missile," FBIS-TAC-97-003, 22 December 1996.

30 December 1996
The UN Security Council criticizes Iraq for its refusal to let UNSCOM ship more than 100 missile engines to the United States for analysis.
--"Security Council Censures Iraq on Missile Oversight," The Washington Post, 31 December 1996, p. A14; United Nations, "Third Report under Resolution 1051," S/1997/301, 11 April 1997.

	Updated August 2005