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 17, 1999
RELEASE NUMBER: 99-05-04
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION AIRCRAFT RESPOND TO IRAQI AGGRESSION
MACDILL AFB, FL - Coalition aircraft struck two targets in Southern Iraq today at approximately 1:20 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The strikes were in response to anti-aircraft artillery fire directed at Coalition aircraft patrolling the Southern No-Fly Zone in Iraq earlier today. This incident brings the number of Iraqi provocations in the No-Fly Zones since the end of Operation DESERT FOX to more than 180.
U.S. Air Force A-10 "Thunderbolt II" and U.S. Navy FA-18 "Hornets" used precision guided munitions to strike a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) site and an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Site near the towns of Abu Sukhayar, about 100 miles south of Baghdad; and An Nasiriyah, about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad. Damage assessment from the strikes 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.
5/17/99 5:14:04 PM
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