DATE=1/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244570
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ, UPDATE (S)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
(EDS: NEW DETAILS ON ENGAGEMENT, GRAFS ONE, TWO)
INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY AMERICAN PLANES FOUGHT ANOTHER DUEL
WITH IRAQI AIR DEFENSE FORCES SATURDAY. NO U-S PLANES WERE HIT
AND OFFICIALS ARE STILL ASSESSING DAMAGE TO THE IRAQI FORCES.
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON.
TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY U-S F-14'S AND F-18'S WERE ON PATROL
OVER IRAQ WHEN IRAQI MIG-21 FIGHTERS DARTED INTO THE SOUTHERN
NO-FLY ZONE AND IRAQI ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS FIRED AT THE AMERICAN
PLANES.
SOME OF THE U-S PLANES RESPONDED BY DROPPING LASER-GUIDED BOMBS
ON IRAQI ANTIAIRCRAFT MISSILE POSITIONS.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE
WEAPONS HIT THEIR TARGETS. THEY SAY ALL U-S PLANES RETURNED
SAFELY TO THE "U-S-S CARL VINSON," AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER OPERATING
IN THE PERSIAN GULF.
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ORDERED IRAQ TO STOP ATTACKING MINORITY
KURDS AND SHI'ITES SHORTLY AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR. WASHINGTON
SAYS THAT GIVES U-S FORCES THE LEGAL BASIS TO BAN IRAQI FLIGHTS
FROM MUCH OF IRAQI AIR SPACE. BAGHDAD SAYS THE NO FLY ZONES ARE
ILLEGAL AND HAS BEEN CHALLENGING U-S AND BRITISH PLANES IN THE
AREA. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/GE
23-Jan-99 2:43 PM EST (1943 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
