translate English to French: The volatile situation has offered Saddam Hussein the opportunity and pretext for reasserting his influence over the whole of Iraq, which had been denied to him by the establishment of the safe havens.
Cette situation explosive a offert à Saddam Hussein opportunité et prétexte pour réaffirmer son autorité sur l'ensemble de l'Irak, jusque là entravée par l'établissement de zones protégées.