U.S. DEMOLITION OPERATIONS AT THE KHAMISIYAH AMMUNITION STORAGE POINT

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 actions of American troops at Khamisiyah. In addition, we report on when it became known that American troops may have been exposed to chemical agents there. This is an interim report, not a final report. We hope that you will read this and contact us with any information that would help us better understand the events reported here. With your help, we will be able to report more accurately on the events surrounding Khamisiyah. Please contact my office to report any new information by calling:

1-800-472-6719

Bernard Rostker
Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
Department of Defense

Last Update: April 14, 1997

Many veterans of the Gulf War have been experiencing a variety of physical symptoms, collectively called Gulf War illnesses. In response to veterans' concerns, the Department of Defense (DoD) established a task force in June 1995 to investigate all possible causes. On 12 November 1996, responsibility for these investigations was assumed by the Investigation and Analysis Directorate (IAD), Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses (OSAGWI) which has continued to investigate the events that occurred at Khamisiyah. Its interim report is contained here. In addition, the Army Inspector General was directed by the Secretary of the Army on 25 September 1996 to conduct an investigation into Army operations at Khamisiyah, and the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight was directed by the Deputy Secretary of Defense on 25 September 1996 to review what the intelligence communities knew concerning Khamisiyah. These independent efforts have not yet been completed and may shed additional light on events at Khamisiyah.

As part of the effort to inform the public about the progress of this effort, DoD is publishing on the Internet and elsewhere accounts related to possible causes of Gulf War illnesses, along with whatever documentary evidence or personal testimony was used in compiling the account. The narrative that follows is the first such account.

  

 

Table of Contents

Summary

The Destruction of Khamisiyah
Inspecting Khamisiyah
The Public Inquiry

Narrative

Introduction
Figure1. Khamisiyah in the KTO
Desert Storm Activities
Destruction of Munitions at Khamisiyah ASP
Figure2. Close-up View of Khamisiyah
UNSCOM Investigations at Khamisiyah
The Public Inquiry
Potential for Exposure - Plume Analysis
Who was at Khamisiyah?

TAB A - Acronym Listing/Glossary

TAB B - Units Identified as Being Within a 50 Kilometer Radius of Khamisiyah ASP

TAB C - Bibliography

END NOTES


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