DATE=4/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247567
TITLE=PENTAGON-IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS, U-S AND IRAQI FORCES HAVE
CLASHED IN THE NO-FLY ZONE COVERING THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE
COUNTRY. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: THE ARMED FORCES' CENTRAL COMMAND SAYS TWO IRAQI PLANES
VIOLATED THE ZONE FRIDAY. A SPOKESMAN, (NAVY) LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER ERNEST DUPLESSIS, SAYS AMERICAN JETS RESPONDED.
// DUPLESSIS ACT //
THREE U-S AIR FORCE F-16 FIGHTING FALCON AIRCRAFT THAT
WERE ENFORCING THE SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE STRUCK AN IRAQI
COMMUNICATION CONTROL FACILITY APPROXIMATELY ONE-HUNDRED
MILES (160 KILOMETERS) SOUTHEAST OF AL-BASRA.
// END ACT //
THE PLANES ALSO HIT A SECOND TARGET, A RADIO RELAY STATION CLOSER
TO BASRA. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DUPLESSIS SAYS THE F-16S
ENCOUNTERED NO HOSTILE FIRE FROM THE GROUND AND RETURNED SAFELY
TO BASE. HE DENIES AN EARLIER IRAQI REPORT THAT AMERICAN PLANES
BOMBED A RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THIS IS THE FIRST SUCH INCIDENT IN TWO WEEKS AFTER A SERIES OF
ALMOST DAILY CLASHES FOLLOWING THE HEAVY U-S ATTACKS ON IRAQ IN
MID-DECEMBER. THE PENTAGON TALLIED SCORES OF ENTRIES IN THE
PROHIBITED AIRSPACE SINCE THEN. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DUPLESSIS
SAYS IT IS NOT CLEAR WHY THE IRAQIS BREACHED THE ZONE AGAIN.
// DUPLESSIS ACT //
WE HAVE NO IDEA OF WHY (IT HAPPENED AT) THIS MOMENT.
BUT WE DO HAVE THE RESOLVE THAT OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH
DOES CONTINUE AND WE WILL RESPOND TO ANY THREATS IN THAT
AREA.
// END ACT //
THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES HAVE BEEN PATROLLING THE SKIES
IN BOTH SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN IRAQ SINCE THE GULF WAR ENDED EIGHT
YEARS AGO. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/LTD/KL
02-Apr-99 12:18 PM EST (1718 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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