UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND (4 Dec 99) -- Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) at Operation Northern Watch (ONW) aircraft again today. The attacks came from a site near Bashiqah, northeast of Mosul and occurred during routine ONW flights. The purpose of these flights is to enforce the northern No-Fly Zone. Coalition aircraft responded by dropping ordnance on the integrated air defense system. All coalition aircraft departed the area safely.
Coalition aircraft have been enforcing the northern No-fly Zone for more than eight years. Since Dec. 28, 1998, Saddam Hussein has opted to challenge this enforcement by firing at coalition aircraft with surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft artillery and by targeting them with radar. Operation Northern Watch aircraft respond in self-defense to these threats while continuing to enforce the no-fly zone.
For more information, please contact the Combined Task Force Combined Information Bureau, ctf.cib@incirlik.af.mil, or phone +90-322-316-3704.
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