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MACDILL AFB, FL –At approximately 2:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, coalition aircraft enforcing the Southern No-Fly Zone in Iraq, struck four Iraqi military targets in response to Iraqi provocations.

The strikes were conducted against a surface-to-air missile site near As Samawah which is approximately 130 miles southeast of Baghdad; against a communications facility near An Nasiriyah which is approximately 170 miles southeast of Baghdad; against an air defense site near Ar Rifah which is approximately 150 miles southeast of Baghdad; and against a communications facility near Abul Al-Hayyah located approximately 230 miles southeast of Baghdad. The strikes were in response to Iraqi no-fly zone violations earlier in the day.

The strikes involved U.S. Air Force F-15E "Strike Eagle" and A-10 "Thunderbolt II"; U.S. Navy F/A-18 "Hornet" and British Royal Air Force GR-1 "Tornado" aircraft, using precision-guided munitions and operating from land and sea bases in the Southwest Asia region. All aircraft have returned safely to their bases and battle damage assessment is ongoing.

Coalition and naval forces are responsible for enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq and UN-mandated maritime sanctions. At the same time, these forces continuously assess the threat posed by Iraqi forces and take actions that are necessary to reduce these threats and to defend themselves.

Since Operation DESERT FOX, the Iraqi military has been increasing both the pace and severity of no-fly zone violations, and continued to enhance its military capabilities in Southern Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

There have been more than 90 no-fly zone violations and more than 70 incidents involving Iraqi surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery and target tracking radar illuminations against coalition aircraft. Coalition forces have responded by attacking more than 44 targets that threatened coalition forces and were in violation on the UN resolutions.

Despite repeated warnings, Iraqi actions and intentions pose serious threats to our coalition forces and friends in the region. Our actions today are an appropriate response to these threats and are in support of the UN mandates.