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 21, 1999
RELEASE NUMBER: 99-06-05
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION AIRCRAFT RESPOND TO IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE
MACDILL AFB, FL - At approximately 8:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, U.S. Navy F/A-18 "Hornet" aircraft enforcing the Southern No-Fly Zone used precision guided munitions to strike two Iraqi Surface-to-Air Missile sites approximately 150 miles south of Baghdad in the vicinity of As Samawah.
The strike was in response to Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery fire directed at Coalition aircraft patrolling the Southern No-Fly Zone earlier today.
There were no coalition aircraft damaged during the incident and battle damage assessment is ongoing.
This hostile act represents the latest of more than 190 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.
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