On 25 June 1996 , terrorists bombed the U.S. base at Khobar Towers in Dhahran , Saudi Arabia which housed personnel at King Abdulaziz Air Base supporting Operation Southern Watch . The attack killed 19 American airmen and injured an additional 372 people . This event led to a re-alignment of American forces in Saudi Arabia from Khobar Towers to Prince Sultan Air Base and Eskan Village , with both installations located away from population centers . In August 1996 , Iraqi forces invaded the Kurdish regions of northern Iraq and American forces responded with Operation Desert Strike against targets in southern Iraq . As a result , the no-fly zone was extended north to the 33rd parallel . This marked renewed conflict with Iraqi air defenses and several more radars were destroyed by F-16 fighters
bombed the U.S. base at Khobar Towers
Khobar Towers bombing
Operation Southern Watch