DATE=1/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243789
TITLE=IRAQ-ATTACKS-TUESDAY (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: (RE-RUNNING WITH CORRECT NUMBER)
(EDS: NEW DETAILS ON DOWNED IRAQI PLANE)
INTRO: A CLASH BETWEEN U-S AND IRAQI PLANES DESTROYED ONE IRAQI
AIRCRAFT TUESDAY. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE AMERICAN PLANES FIRED
MISSILES AT SOME IRAQI JETS, BUT MAY HAVE MISSED THEIR TARGETS.
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY
THE IRAQI PILOT MAY HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE.
TEXT: A SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS AT LEAST FOUR U-S PLANES
ENCOUNTERED AT LEAST TWO IRAQI AIRCRAFT IN THE SOUTHERN NO FLY
ZONE, AND FIRED AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES AT THEM.
THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE U-S PLANES INCLUDED F-14 FIGHTERS FROM THE
AIRCRAFT CARRIER U-S-S CARL VINSON, AS WELL AS LAND BASED F-15'S.
THE IRAQI PLANES WERE JETS, BUT OFFICIALS ARE NOT YET CERTAIN
WHAT TYPE.
IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT FORCES HAVE CHALLENGED U-S AND BRITISH
WARPLANES TWICE IN RECENT WEEKS, LAUNCHING MISSILES AT PATROLLING
PLANES. THE ALLIED AIRCRAFT RESPONDED WITH BOMBS AND MISSILES ON
THOSE OCCASIONS. AT LEAST FOUR IRAQI SOLDIERS WERE KILLED, AND
OTHERS WERE INJURED ON THE GROUND. WASHINGTON DENIES IRAQI
CLAIMS THAT ALLIED PLANES WERE SHOT DOWN IN THOSE INCIDENTS.
TUESDAY'S FIGHT OCCURRED IN THE SOUTHERN NO FLY ZONE, WHICH WAS
SET UP AFTER THE GULF WAR TO PROTECT SHIITE MUSLIMS FROM AIR
ATTACK BY BAGHDAD'S FORCES. U- S AND BRITISH PLANES ALSO PATROL
A "NO-FLY ZONE" IN NORTHERN IRAQ DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE MINORITY
KURD POPULATION THERE.
PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY IRAQI PLANES OFTEN DART INTO THE NO-FLY
ZONES TO TEST ALLIED PATROLS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IRAQI
AND AMERICAN PLANES HAVE FIRED AT ONE ANOTHER SINCE 1992, WHEN A
U-S F-16 DOWNED AN IRAQI MIG 25. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/GE
05-Jan-99 12:59 PM EST (1759 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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