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Initial damage assessments show 'good coverage'

Released: 17 Dec 1998

WASHINGTON -- Early assessments of battle damage from air strikes against Iraq is that "our forces are performing well," according to the secretary of defense.

"There have been no American casualties, and we are achieving good coverage of our targets," William S. Cohen said. "As a result, we are advancing our goal of containing Saddam Hussein."

He said U.S. and British forces were "diminishing (Saddam's) ability to attack his neighbors, either conventionally or with weapons of mass destruction. And since Iraq has now prevented United Nations inspectors from doing their job, we have to resort to military action to continue to contain him."

All aircraft and crews returned safely after the first wave of attacks early Dec. 17, and, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "Additional strike operations are under way even as we speak."

Cohen and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Henry H. Shelton briefed reporters Dec. 18, less than 24 hours after Operation Desert Fox began.

Targets, Cohen said, included Iraq's air defense system, command-and-control system, airfields and infrastructure and facilities.

"One thing should be absolutely clear: We are concentrating on military targets," he said. "We are not attacking the people of Iraq. We have no desire to increase the level of suffering that Saddam Hussein has imposed on those people."

The success thus far of what President Clinton declared would be "a strong, sustained series of air strikes" resulted from the excellent performance of the U.S. military, according to Cohen. "Our military is performing extremely well, and every American should be proud of the troops who are participating in Desert Fox."

Shelton then updated operation results, warning that "there will not be the level of detail on either targets or the initial damage assessments" people would like to have because "that kind of detailed assessment simply isn't available or in some cases would reveal too much about the on-going operation."

He nevertheless displayed aerial photos that showed heavy damage inflicted on the Baghdad director of military intelligence headquarters and barracks housing the special security guards. At both sites buildings were reduced to rubble.

The general said information received indicated hits at other sites were "as successful or more successful than this was -- some of it not as successful." This was why, he said, the heaviest attacks against Iraq since Desert Storm in 1991 would continue.

Shelton said the first night's actions "principally involved our naval forces with more than 70 Navy and Marine Corps strike support aircraft from the USS Enterprise and over 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from Navy ships."

These forces, according to Shelton, "struck more than 50 separate targets." These included sites suspected of producing or storing weapons of mass destruction and those involved with security and command and control.

For the second night of attacks, Shelton said, "There will be all kinds of aircraft," referring to land- and sea-based aircraft of both U.S. and British forces.

"Strikes will include land-based aircraft, including the British Tornados, as well as additional Navy and Marine strike sorties from the deck of the USS Enterprise," the general said.

Cohen said all indications were that Iraq was surprised by the attack. Intelligence reports leading up to the first strike, Cohen explained, indicated that Saddam Hussein thought there was no chance the United States would hit Iraq between submission of the U.N. Special Commission report and the onset of Islamic Ramadan observances.

The secretary said the United States is "sensitive to Ramadan," the Islamic holy month beginning Dec. 20, but he added that Desert Fox will continue until its mission is complete.

Future operations, according to Shelton, would include the Crisis Response Force now arriving on scene. He said the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson would arrive in the Persian Gulf later Dec. 17. Ground and air forces based in the United States will begin to arrive over the weekend.

The people behind the weapons will continue to be the key to the success of Desert Fox, added the general.

"Our people make the difference," he said. "It is our superb soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who make America the superpower it is. We owe our men and women in uniform carrying out this operation a great deal."