Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
NEWS RELEASE
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
August 16, 1999
RELEASE NUMBER: 99-08-04
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION AIRCRAFT RESPOND TO IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE
MACDILL AFB, FL - At approximately 6:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, U.S. Navy F/A-18 "Hornet" and F-14 "Tomcat" aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone used precision guided munitions to strike an Iraqi surface-to-air missile and radar site near Al Kut, approximately 100 miles southeast of Baghdad. All aircraft have returned safely and battle damage assessment is ongoing.
The strike was in response to Iraqi Anti-Aircraft Artillery fire directed at Coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone earlier today. This has followed a several-week-long pattern of stepped up Iraqi provocations including a surface-to-air missile firing, numerous incidents of anti-aircraft artillery fire, as well as several deliberate no-fly zone violations by Iraqi aircraft.
U.S. and coalition aircraft are responsible for enforcing United Nations sanctions and restrictions of the no-fly zones in Iraq. The no-fly zones were established to protect the people of Northern and Southern Iraq from a brutal regime that has used aircraft to repress its own citizens. Coalition pilots will continue to take necessary measures to defend themselves by targeting Iraq's air defense network as long as it threatens coalition planes and forces in the region.
8/16/99 12:46:35 PM
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