The United States and Great Britain warn of possible military strikes to force compliance. A renewed military build-up in the Persian Gulf begins. The U.N. Security Council condemns Iraq for violating agreements signed after the end of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The United Nations withdraws most of its staff from Iraq. The bombers are recalled before an attack occurs.
Weapons inspectors return to Iraq a few days later.
U.N. teams begin departing Iraq. A formal U.N. report accuses Iraq of a repeated pattern of obstructing weapons inspections by not allowing access to records and inspections sites, and by moving equipment records and equipment from one to site another. The United States and Great Britain begin a massive air campaign against key military targets in Iraq.