DATE=2/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245422
TITLE=IRAQ THURSDAY - L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S WARPLANES BOMBED IRAQI MILITARY FACILITIES FOR THE
SECOND STRAIGHT DAY THURSDAY. U-S OFFICIALS SAY IRAQ SPARKED
THIS LATEST SERIES OF INCIDENTS BY SENDING JETS INTO THE NO-FLY
ZONES AND TARGETING U-S PLANES WITH ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS AND RADAR.
BAGHDAD SAYS AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE DIED ON THE GROUND. V-O-A'S JIM
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE ACTIONS BEGAN IN THE NORTH
WHEN A U-S PILOT NOTICED ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS FIRING AT HIM. OTHER
PILOTS DETECTED IRAQI RADAR EMISSIONS. IN THE SOUTH, U-S ATTACKS
ON GROUND TARGETS FOLLOWED FLIGHTS BY IRAQI (MIG-23'S) JETS INTO
THE NO-FLY ZONE.
AMERICAN PLANES USED PRECISION GUIDED BOMBS, MISSILES AND AT
LEAST ONE RADAR-SEEKING MISSILE ON THE IRAQI TARGETS. THOSE
TARGETS INCLUDED RADARS, MISSILE SYSTEMS AND COMMUNICATIONS
STATIONS.
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY SAYS THE COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT IS A TARGET BECAUSE IT ALLOWS IRAQI RADARS IN ONE PART
OF THE COUNTRY TO SEND TARGETING INFORMATION TO WEAPONS
ELSEWHERE. HE SAYS THAT MAKES THE MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS A THREAT TO U-S WARPLANES.
/// DOUBLEDAY ACT ///
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE
EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THESE THREATS WHERE EVER THEY
OCCUR.
/// END ACT ///
ALL U-S PLANES RETURNED SAFELY TO BASE. OFFICIALS IN BAGHDAD SAY
TWO IRAQIS WERE KILLED AND SEVERAL WERE HURT IN THE ATTACKS.
THE SECOND DAY OF CLASHES FOLLOWS A WEEK-LONG LULL IN THE
STRUGGLE TO CONTROL IRAQI AIR SPACE. THE NO-FLY ZONES,
ESTABLISHED AFTER THE GULF WAR, BAN IRAQI AIRCRAFT FROM ABOUT 60
PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/WDC/JO
11-Feb-99 3:29 PM EST (2029 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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