DATE=1/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243908
TITLE=IRAQ / U-S PLANE (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S FIGHTER PLANE FIRED A MISSILE AT AN IRAQI AIR
DEFENSE SITE IN NORTHERN IRAQ THURSDAY, AFTER BEING TARGETED BY
RADAR. U-S OFFICIALS SAY U-S PLANES PROBABLY HIT THE RADAR
BEFORE RETURNING SAFELY BASE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM
THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE INCIDENT BEGAN WHEN IRAQI TROOPS
POINTED A MISSILE RADAR AT TWO U-S PLANES. ONCE THE RADAR BEGINS
TRACKING A PLANE CLOSELY, IT TAKES ONLY SECONDS TO LAUNCH
SUPERSONIC ANTIAIRCRAFT MISSILES.
ONE OF THE PLANES WAS AN F-16 FIGHTER SPECIALLY EQUIPPED TO
DESTROY AIR DEFENSES. THE PILOT QUICKLY LAUNCHED A MISSILE,
CALLED A "HARM," DESIGNED TO WRECK RADAR AND BLIND AIR DEFENSES.
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE RADAR WAS PART OF A MOBILE
ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM -- CALLED "ROLAND" -- THAT USES RADAR TO
GUIDE ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES.
/// FIRST BACON ACT ///
WE DO NOT HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ROLAND
BUT THE RADAR STOPPED BEAMING AT PRECISELY THE TIME THE
HARM WAS TO IMPACT THE RADAR. SO WE ASSUME IT WAS A
HIT.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BACON SAYS THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 32 KILOMETERS
NORTHWEST OF MOSUL, IRAQ, AND THAT U-S AND BRITISH FORCES ARE
STILL MONITORING THE NORTHERN NO-FLY ZONE.
THIS IS THE FOURTH CONFRONTATION BETWEEN COALITION PLANES AND
IRAQI FORCES SINCE THE "DESERT FOX" BOMBING CAMPAIGN LAST MONTH.
ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS INVOLVED U-S OR BRITISH PLANES ENFORCING
THE FLIGHT EXCLUSION ZONES.
MR. BACON SAYS TWO IRAQI AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE NO-FLY ZONES
BRIEFLY THURSDAY, BUT CALLED THEIR ACTIONS BRIEF AND MILITARILY
INSIGNIFICANT. HE SAID COALITION AIRCRAFT WERE TOO FAR AWAY TO
SHOOT DOWN THE IRAQI MIG 21'S. PENTAGON OFFICIALS WILL NOT SAY
WHAT ACTIONS THEY WILL TAKE IF VIOLATIONS CONTINUE, BUT MR. BACON
WARNED BAGHDAD TO BE CAREFUL.
/// SECOND BACON ACT ///
WE'VE SHOW THAT WE CAN STRIKE WITH SPEED, FORCE AND
SURPRISE AT THE TIME OF OUR CHOOSING AND WE HAVE THAT
ABILITY TODAY, JUST AS WE HAD IN DECEMBER. SHOULD THE
CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE, WE CAN RESPOND IN A VARIETY OF
WAYS.
/// END ACT ///
THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONES WERE SET UP AFTER THE 1991
GULF WAR TO PREVENT IRAQI AIR ATTACKS ON SHIITE MUSLIMS IN THE
SOUTH AND KURDS IN THE NORTH. U-N RESOLUTIONS ORDER IRAQ TO STOP
SUPPRESSING ITS OWN PEOPLE AND NOT TO THREATEN ITS NEIGHBORS
WITH MILITARY FORCES. U-S AND BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY THIS GIVES
THEM THE LEGAL BASIS TO BLOCK IRAQI AIRCRAFT FROM ABOUT 60
PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S AIR SPACE. BAGHDAD CALLS THE "NO FLY
ZONES" ILLEGAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/ENE/WTW
07-Jan-99 4:50 PM EST (2150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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