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Anti-aircraft artillery fired at coalition aircraft

Released: 23 Feb 1999

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INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) -- Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles dropped GBU-12 and GBU-24 precision-guided bombs on an Iraqi multiple-launch rocket system and command-and-control bunker between 5:45 and 6 a.m. EST Feb. 23.

The aircraft, conducting routine enforcement of the northern no-fly zone, responded to anti-aircraft artillery fire.

There was no damage to coalition aircraft. Damage to Iraqi forces is currently being assessed.

The incident follows a series of engagements a day earlier in the southern no-fly zone between Iraqi and coalition forces.

In the first instance, at about 3:40 a.m. EST Feb. 22, coalition aircraft struck military targets after two Iraqi aircraft violated the southern no-fly zone.

Air Force F-15E and British Royal Air Force GR-1 Tornado aircraft operating from bases in the Southwest Asia region used precision-guided weapons to strike four military targets in southern Iraq in the vicinity of Basrah. There were no coalition aircraft damaged during the incident, and battle damage assessment is ongoing.

Then, at 8:45 a.m. EST, coalition aircraft struck in response to anti-aircraft artillery fire directed at the aircraft.

The strikes were conducted in the vicinity of As Samawah, about 130 miles southeast of Baghdad; near Ar Rumaylah, about 300 miles southeast of Baghdad; and near Al Kharm, about 75 miles south of Baghdad.

Air Force F-15E, Navy F/A-18 Hornet and British GR-1 Tornado aircraft operating from land and sea bases in the Southwest Asia region used precision-guided weapons to strike an Iraqi surface-to-air missile site and two military communications sites.

There were no coalition aircraft damaged during these incidents, and battle damage assessment is ongoing.

"Since Operation Desert Fox, the Iraqi military has been increasing both the pace and severity of no-fly zone violations," according to a U.S. Southern Command statement. "Despite repeated warnings, Iraqi actions and intentions pose serious threats to our aircrews, and our actions today are an appropriate response to these threats.

"U.S. and coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq continuously assess the level of threat posed by the Iraqi forces and take actions necessary to reduce these threats and to defend themselves."