DATE=5/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248900
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AMERICAN JETS AND IRAQI FORCES HAVE CLASHED AGAIN IN THE
NO-FLY ZONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ NEAR (THE CITY OF) MOSUL -- WITH
POSSIBLE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: THE U-S MILITARY SAYS THE PLANES ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE
AFTER BEING TARGETED BY IRAQI RADARS AND FIRED ON BY
ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES. IN RESPONSE, THE PILOTS LAUNCHED THEIR
OWN MISSILES. THEY ALSO DROPPED LASER-GUIDED BOMBS ON ONE IRAQI
BATTERY.
HOWEVER, OFFICIALS SAY A RADAR SITE WAS NOT HIT WITH BOMBS
BECAUSE IT WAS BASED IN A CIVILIAN AREA. THE PLANES BROKE OFF
THE ATTACK AFTER FIRING A SINGLE HIGH-SPEED ANTI-RADAR MISSILE.
THE GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD CLAIMS CIVILIANS HAVE DIED IN PREVIOUS
STRIKES. PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS PRESIDENT SADDAM
HUSSEIN IS ENDANGERING PEOPLE'S LIVES.
// BACON ACT //
ONE OF HIS TACTICS NOW MAY BE TO PLACE HIS AIR-DEFENSE
SYSTEMS IN CIVILIAN NEIGHBORHOODS THINKING THAT HE CAN
CHALLENGE US WITH IMPUNITY, BECAUSE HE'S DONE THAT. I
THINK THAT'S NOT ONLY A RISKY STRATEGY FOR HIM BUT FOR
HIS CIVILIANS.
// END ACT //
THE AMERICAN PLANES RETURNED SAFELY TO BASE IN (INCIRLIK) TURKEY.
THE IRAQIS HAVE TARGETED COALITION JETS IN THE NO-FLY ZONES
FAIRLY OFTEN SINCE LAST DECEMBER. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/PHW/JO
03-May-99 4:03 PM EDT (2003 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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