USS Constellation In The Persian Gulf

USS CONSTELLATION, IN THE PERSIAN GULF - JANUARY 1: A U.S. Navy saliors stand on the deck as planes are launched off the USS Constellation January 1, 2003 in the Persian Gulf. The warplanes from the aircraft carrier have the mission to patrol the no-flight zone in southern Iraq. The no-flight zones in southern and northern Iraq were established after the 1991 Persian Gulf war to prevent Iraq from carrying out air strikes against Shiites in southern Iraq and Kurdish forces in the north of the country. The zones have been patrolled by the United States Air Force and Navy and the British. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)