"The F-16 has been the most prolific fighter in US and coalition operations in the Middle East for over a decade. Since the 1991 Gulf War, it has been the work horse of the UN-sanctioned operations in the Middle East region, working in Wild Weasel, ground attack and air superiority roles.
Operation Southern Watch and Operation Northern Watch followed the first Gulf War and were designed to discourage Iraq’s military regime from persecuting Shiite and Kurdish peoples. It required daily and continuous combat patrols over Iraqi territory for over a decade