Operation RECORD

May 1991–August 15, 2001

Operation RECORD was Canada's contribution to the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM), which was created in 1991, after the Gulf War, to monitor the frontier between Iraq and Kuwait. UNIKOM forces oversaw the withdrawal of armed forces from the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between Iraq and Kuwait, and then focussed on the Khawr Abd Allah waterway and the DMZ to ensure compliance with the boundaries established by the Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Committee in 1993.

Operating from headquarters in Umm Qasr, Iraq, UNIKOM comprises 195 United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs) from about 30 countries, a battalion-sized security force, a squadron of military engineers, and about 175 civilian personnel. At the time of its establishment, Canada contributed a senior staff officer to serve at UNIKOM headquarters, and a contingent of 300 Canadian Forces personnel primarily from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Edmonton. CF engineers continued to deploy on Operation Record until March 1993, when the Canadian commitment was reduced to five UNMOs.