U.S. , British and French planes have been patrolling the skies of northern Iraq since shortly after the 1991 Gulf War to shield Iraq 's Kurds from any attack by Iraqi troops .
<response> <location>U.S.</location> , <misc>British</misc> and <misc>French</misc> planes have been patrolling the skies of northern <location>Iraq</location> since shortly after the 1991 <misc>Gulf War</misc> to shield <location>Iraq</location> 's <misc>Kurds</misc> from any attack by <misc>Iraqi</misc> troops . </response>