Case Narrative

Tallil Air Base, Iraq

Final Report

May 22, 2000

Many veterans of the Gulf War have expressed concern that their unexplained illnesses may result from their experiences in that war. In response to veterans’ concerns, the Department of Defense established a task force in June 1995 to investigate those incidents and circumstances relating to possible causes. The Office of the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses assumed responsibility for these investigations on November 12, 1996.

Case Narratives are reports of what we know today about specific events that took place during the Gulf War of 1990 and 1991. This particular case narrative focuses on the Tallil Air Base and whether chemical warfare agents or chemical weapons were stored there during Desert Storm and the post-war US occupation. The narrative was initially published on October 30, 1997. Since that time, the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses has not received any new information on the material presented, nor have any additional leads developed to change the narrative’s assessments. Additionally, the Presidential Special Oversight Board reviewed the narrative and recommended that the Office of the Special Assistant republish it as final. For this reason, this is a final report. However, if you believe you have information that may change this case narrative, please contact my office by calling:

1-800-497-6261

Bernard Rostker
Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
Department of Defense

2000080-0000003  Ver. 2.0

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.  METHODOLOGY

II.  SUMMARY

III.  NARRATIVE
     A.  Background
          1.  Tallil Air Base Description
          2.  Iraq’s Air-Delivered Chemical Weapons Program
     B.  Desert Storm
          1.  The Air War
          2.  The Ground War
     C.  Cease-fire and Occupation of Tallil
     D.  Continuing Operations
          1.  Search for Chemical Warfare Munitions
          2.  Demolition Activities
          3.  Transition to 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
     E.  Activity after US Occupation

IV.  ANALYSIS

V.  ASSESSMENT

VI.  LESSONS LEARNED

TAB A - Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Glossary

TAB B - Units Involved

TAB C - Bibliography

TAB D - Methodology For Chemical Incident Investigation

TAB E - Changes in This Report

END NOTES


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