Operation Southern Focus

Operation Southern Focus
Part of Iraqi no-fly zones conflict
Date June 2002 – 17 March 2003 Location Southern Iraq Result Successful reduction of Iraqi air defense systems
Belligerents
United States	Republic of Iraq
Commanders and leaders
George W. Bush President of the United States T. Michael Moseley USCENTAF Commander	Saddam Hussein President of Iraq Hamid Raja Shalah Air Force Commander Muzahim Sa'b Hasan Air Defence Commander
Casualties and losses
1 MQ-1 Predator destroyed	Unknown, many air defense systems destroyed

Operation Southern Focus was a period in the months leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq (called "Operation Iraqi Freedom" in the United States) in which the military responses to violations of the southern Iraqi no-fly zones were increased, with more intensive bombing of air defense artillery installations and other military complexes. It also marked a period of increased intelligence gathering. The operation lasted from June 2002 until the beginning of the invasion in March 2003. It was intended to be a "softening up" period prior to invasion, degrading Iraq's air defense and communication abilities. Lieutenant General T. Michael Moseley revealed the operation's existence in mid-2003.^[1]