DATE=12/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243407
TITLE=IRAQ ATTACK DENIED (S ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PENTAGON OFFICIALS STRONGLY DENY IRAQI NEWS REPORTS THAT
U-S AIRCRAFT FIRED MISSILES OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ. V-O-A'S JIM
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: A BAGHDAD TELEVISION REPORT SAYS THAT AIRCRAFT PILOTED BY
"CRIMINAL AGGRESSORS" FIRED TWO MISSILES "AT RANDOM" NEAR BASRAH
"BEFORE FLEEING." THE BROADCAST REPORT SAYS THE INCIDENT
OCCURRED IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON ON TUESDAY.
A U-S AIR FORCE SPOKESMAN CALLED THE REPORT "BOGUS" (COMPLETELY
FALSE).
LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAY DEFRANK SAYS U-S AND BRITISH WAR PLANES
ROUTINELY PATROL THE SKIES OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ,
ENFORCING A NO-FLY ZONE IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR.
HE SAYS IF IRAQI FORCES THREATEN ALLIED PLANES BY POINTING AIR
DEFENSE RADARS AT THEM, PILOTS ARE ALLOWED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES
BY FIRING MISSILES. BUT COL. DEFRANK AND OTHER PENTAGON
OFFICIALS SAY NOTHING OF THAT SORT HAPPENED THIS TIME. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/KL
22-Dec-98 10:16 AM EST (1516 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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