In 1990, after Saddam invaded Kuwait, we, (GF), continued to make regular scheduled trips from Europe to the Gulf and vice versa and came over Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. We would see the pencil wedges come up to us from SW Iraq and they would often stay with us until we were well into Saudi going East and we lost them over Turkey going West.
We liaised with both RAF and USAF in various places and they said it was the anti aircraft batteries locking onto us for practice but that speed, height, direction, schedule etc. would tell them we were no threat, it was more a show of force. After Jan 16th 1991 they all disappeared!