34th Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 688 in Support of Kurdistan

ARK News.. On Saturday, April 5, 2025, marks the 34th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, which was passed in favor of Kurdistan, effectively prohibiting Iraqi warplanes from flying over Kurdish airspace.

The resolution was adopted on April 5, 1991, following a joint letter submitted to the United Nations by France, Iran, and Turkey, expressing grave concern over the tragic political events unfolding in Iraq—particularly the 1991 popular uprising. The letter urged the Iraqi government to cease its attacks on the Kurdish people in Iraqi Kurdistan and to prevent the Ba’ath regime from targeting Kurdish civilians.

The Security Council adopted Resolution 688 with 10 votes in favor, 3 against (Yemen, Zimbabwe, and Cuba), and 2 abstentions (China and India).

France and the United States later used the resolution as a legal basis to establish a no-fly zone over northern Iraq (Kurdistan, north of the 36th parallel) to protect displaced civilians fleeing brutal crackdowns by the Ba’ath regime.

Resolution 688 included six provisions under Chapter VI and thirteen under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The first paragraph condemned the aerial bombardment of civilian populations in various parts of Iraq, including those in Iraqi Kurdistan. It called on Iraq to eliminate threats to international peace and security and to respect the human rights of its citizens.

The Council further condemned the repression of civilian populations and urged Iraq to grant international humanitarian organizations access to affected regions to deliver aid and essential supplies.

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