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RELEASE Headquarters, United States Central Command March 15, 1999 Release Number: 9903-05 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COALITION AIRCRAFT RESPOND TO NO-FLY ZONE VIOLATIONS MACDILL AFB, FL – At approximately 1:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, U.S. Air Force F-16CG "Fighting Falcon," and U.S. Navy F/A-18 "Hornet" and F-14 "Tomcat" aircraft enforcing the Southern No-Fly Zone struck an Iraqi radar relay site 200 miles southeast of Baghdad near As Salman, and a radar site 290 miles southeast of Baghdad in the vicinity of As Shuaybah.The strikes were in response to Iraqi aircraft violations of the Southern No-Fly Zone. These hostile acts were the latest of more than 135 Iraqi provocations in the southern no-fly zone since Operation Desert Fox. There were no coalition aircraft damaged during the incident and battle damage assessment is ongoing. Coalition air 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 level of threat posed by the Iraqi forces and take actions that are necessary toreduce these threats and to defend themselves. Since Desert Fox, Saddam Hussein has significantly increased the threat to our pilots and aircrews patrolling the no-fly zones through his rhetoric and actions. Iraq has announced its intent to bring down a coalition aircraft, and in fact has issued a bounty to Iraqi military personnel for a successful engagement. 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 UN mandates.
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