NEWS RELEASE
Headquarters, United States Central Command
February 21, 1999
Release Number: 9902-07COALITION AIRCRAFT STRIKE IN RESPONSE TO THREAT
MACDILL AFB, FL – At approximately 8:40 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, coalition aircraft enforcing the Southern No-Fly Zone in Iraq, struck military targets in response to Iraqi provocations.
The aircraft, operating from bases in the Southwest Asia region and on patrol in the area, used precision-guided weapons to strike an Iraqi surface-to-air missile site and two military communication sites.
The strikes were conducted near Al Amarah which is approximately 170 miles southeast of Baghdad and near Tallil which is also approximately 170 miles southeast of Baghdad in southern Iraq. The strikes were in response to a No-Fly Zone violation by two Iraqi aircraft earlier in the day.
The strikes involved US Navy F/A-18 "Hornet," F-14 "Tomcat" and Royal Air Force GR-1 aircraft. Damage assessment from the strike is ongoing. All aircraft involved in the strike have returned safely to their bases.
Since Operation DESERT FOX, the Iraqi military has been increasing both the pace and severity of no-fly zone violations. Despite repeated warnings, Iraqi actions and intentions pose serious threats to our aircrews and our actions today are an appropriate response to these threats.
The U.S. and coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq continuously assess the level of threat posed by the Iraqi forces and take actions that are necessary to reduce these threats and to defend themselves.
These aircraft are part of Operation Southern Watch that enforces United Nations sanctions and restrictions of the no-fly zone south of the 33rd parallel in Iraq.
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