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
June 1, 1999
RELEASE NUMBER: 99-06-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION AIRCRAFT RESPOND TO IRAQI PROVOCATION
MACDILL AFB, FL - At approximately 3:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, a U.S. Air Force F-16CG "Fighting Falcon" aircraft enforcing the Southern No-Fly Zone used precision guided munitions to strike an Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery site about 150 miles southeast of Baghdad near As Samawah.
The strike was in response to anti-aircraft artillery fire directed at Coalition aircraft patrolling the Southern No-Fly Zone earlier today.
This hostile act represents the latest of more than 180 provocations in the Southern No-Fly Zone since Operation DESERT FOX. In response to Iraqi aggression, coalition pilots have taken appropriate actions to defend themselves, and they will continue to defend themselves by targeting Iraq's air defense network as long as it threatens coalition planes and forces in the region.
There were no coalition aircraft damaged during the incident and battle damage assessment is ongoing.
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