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MACDILL AFB, FL – At approximately 3:40 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, coalition aircraft enforcing the Southern No-Fly Zone in Iraq, struck military targets in response to Iraqi provocations.

U.S. Air Force F-15E "Strike Eagle" and British Royal Air Force GR-1 "Tornado" aircraft operating from bases in the Southwest Asia region used precision-guided weapons to strike military targets in southern Iraq in the vicinity of Basrah. There were no coalition aircraft damaged during the incident and battle damage assessment is ongoing.

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 which enforce United Nations sanctions and restrictions of the no-fly zone south of the 33^rd parallel in Iraq.