DATE=2/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245024
TITLE=PENTAGON-IRAQ (L-ONITER)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY AMERICAN PLANES WIDENED THEIR ATTACKS
ON IRAQ BY STRIKING ANTI-SHIP MISSILES IN THE FAR SOUTHERN PART
OF THE COUNTRY TUESDAY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT MEMORY
THAT U-S PLANES HAVE BOMBED THIS TYPE OF WEAPON. V-O-A'S JIM
RANDLE REPORTS.
TEXT: FOUR AMERICAN PLANES AIMED BOMBS AT THE RUSSIAN-MADE
"SEERSUCKER" SHIP-KILLER MISSILES.
PILOTS SAY THEIR BOMBS SPARKED SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS ON THE
GROUND, SO THEY ARE PRETTY SURE THEY HIT THEIR TARGETS. U-S
OFFICIALS SAY THE MISSILES WERE A THREAT TO U-S AND OTHER SHIPS
IN THE PERSIAN GULF.
IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY AMERICAN WEAPONS HIT A FOOD WAREHOUSE.
THE ATTACKS IN THE SOUTH CAME AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS SEVERAL
INCIDENTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ THAT SAW IRAQI AIR DEFENSES TARGETING
U-S PLANES WITH RADARS. THE AMERICAN AIRCRAFT PATROLLING THE
"NO-FLY" ZONES RESPONDED WITH BOMBS AND MISSILES.
IRAQ SAYS IT CONFRONTED MANY WESTERN WARPLANES, LAUNCHED SEVERAL
MISSILES, AND FORCED THE ALLIED PLANES TO FLEE. BAGHDAD ALSO
CLAIMS SAUDI ARABIAN PILOTS TOOK PART IN TUESDAY'S ATTACKS, BUT
SAUDI ARABIA DENIES THE CHARGE.
WESTERN POWERS BANNED IRAQI FLIGHTS FROM MORE THAN HALF THE
COUNTRY AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR, TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS
FROM IRAQI AIR ATTACK. WASHINGTON SAYS IT IS ENFORCING U-N
RESOLUTIONS WITH THE "NO-FLY" ZONES. BAGHDAD CALLS THE ZONES
ILLEGAL, AND IS CHALLENGING THEM WITH RADAR, MISSILES, AND
FIGHTER PLANES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/WDC/WTW
02-Feb-99 8:47 PM EST (0147 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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