DATE=3/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246602
TITLE=TURKEY/U-S AIRSTRIKES (S ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBARIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S WAR PLANES TAKING OFF FROM A NATO BASE IN SOUTHERN
TURKEY POUNDED IRAQI DEFENSES SUNDAY IN THE NO-FLY ZONE OVER
KURDISH-CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN HAS
THE DETAILS.
TEXT: A SPOKESMAN AT THE INCIRLIK AIRBASE SAID THE AMERICAN
PLANES MADE AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF ATTACKS AFTER IRAQI
ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY TRACKED THEM WITH RADAR. HE SAID THE
BOMBINGS WERE CARRIED OUT FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES.
U-S AND BRITISH FIGHTER JETS HAVE BEEN STATIONED AT THE TURKISH
BASE SINCE THE PERSIAN GULF WAR ALLIES DECLARED THE AIR EXCLUSION
ZONE OVER NORTHERN IRAQ IN APRIL, 1991. THEIR MISSION IS TO
PREVENT IRAQ GOVERNMENT FORCES FROM MOUNTING ATTACKS AGAINST THE
ESTIMATED THREE-MILLION KURDS WHO ARE LARGELY CONCENTRATED IN THE
SO-CALLED "KURDISH SAFE HAVEN" IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
COALITION PLANES ALSO ENFORCE A NO-FLY ZONE IN THE MAINLY SHI-ITE
MUSLIM SOUTH OF IRAQ.
IN RECENT MONTHS IRAQ HAS STEPPED UP ATTACKS AGAINST THE
COALITION PLANES, SAYING THEY ARE VIOLATING IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL
SOVEREIGNTY. NO PLANES HAVE BEEN LOST. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/DW/RAE
14-Mar-99 9:34 AM EST (1434 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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