On this day, 28 years ago, November 14, 1997 (October 15, 1997 in the lunar calendar), United Nations weapons inspectors withdrew from Iraq. On November 15, 1997, in view of the fact that the current weapons inspection crisis had not yet been resolved, the United Nations announced the withdrawal of most weapons inspectors in Iraq, leaving only a few personnel to protect United Nations facilities in Iraq. Verification operations were blocked and sanctions on Iraq were extended.