Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
August 11, 2000
RELEASE NUMBER: 00-08-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION AIRCRAFT RESPOND TO IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE
MACDILL AFB, FL - Coalition aircraft operating from the Arabian Peninsula attacked two command posts and a surface-to-air missile site today in response to Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery attacks yesterday against coalition forces enforcing the no-fly-zone in southern Iraq.
Four U.S. Navy F-14 "Tomcats" and three F/A-18 "Hornets," four U.S. Air Force F-16 "Fighting Falcons" and three British Royal Air Force Tornado GR-1s attacked a SAM site near Tallil, and command posts located near As Samawah and Tallil, at approximately 3:20 p.m. EST.
"Our forces used appropriate measures to defend themselves against Iraq's attacks," said Lt. Gen. Chuck Wald, commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces. "We will always respond to Iraqi provocations with measured and controlled force to ensure the safety of our aircrews as they enforce the no-fly-zones established under the U.N. resolutions."
Wald emphasized that because Saddam often places his military assets near civilian occupied areas, it is important to use precision munitions in order to properly consider the safety of Iraqi civilians and the historic, cultural, religious and non-military facilities endangered by the Iraqi regime's irresponsible actions.
All coalition aircraft have returned safely and battle damage assessment in ongoing.
To date, there have been more than 650 separate incidents of violations of the no-fly-zone and Iraqi surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery fire directed against coalition pilots.
The last coalition strike was against two anti-aircraft artillery sites on July 22.
Coalition aircraft do not target civilian populations or infrastructure and seek to avoid injury to civilians and damage to civilian facilities.
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