HEADQUARTERS,
UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 828-5894; FAX: (813) 840-5629; DSN 968-5894
May 9, 1999
RELEASE NUMBER: 99-05-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION AIRCRAFT RESPOND TO IRAQI AGGRESSION
MACDILL AFB, FL - Coalition aircraft struck three targets in Southern Iraq today at approximately 2:30 a.m. EDT. The strikes were in response to anti-aircraft artillery fire directed at Coalition aircraft patrolling the Southern No-Fly Zone in Iraq earlier this morning. This incident brings the number of Iraqi provocations in the No-Fly Zones since the end of Operation DESERT FOX to more than 165.
U.S. Air Force F-16CGs used precision guided munitions to strike a radar site and two communications sites. The strikes were conducted near the towns of Al Basrah, As Samawah and Al Hallah. Damage assessment from the strike is ongoing and all aircraft involved have returned safely to their bases.
U.S. and coalition aircraft are part of Operation Southern Watch and are responsible for enforcing United Nations sanctions and restrictions of the no-fly zones in Iraq. Despite repeated warnings, Iraqi actions and intentions pose serious threats to our forces and friends in the region and our actions today are an appropriate response to these violations and support the UN mandates.
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