Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=10/03/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PENTAGON/IRAQ/NO-FLY (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-294812

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE= PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

//eds: pentagon has called off planned 1 pm briefing that was basis for the insighted Pentagon/Iraq item. //

INTRO: Coalition aircraft dropped leaflets over southern Iraq Thursday, urging Iraqi forces not to fire on U-S and British planes patrolling the no-fly zone. But as V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports, the message seems to have had no effect.

TEXT: The message on the leaflet was a simple one: Iraqi air defenses beware! If you track or fire on coalition planes, you could be destroyed.

But U-S military officials say at least one aircraft involved in the mission dropping a total of 120-thousand such leaflets came under fire from Iraqi anti-aircraft gunners.

The plane was undamaged and returned to its base safely.

Defense officials say it was the first such leaflet drop since October of last year. When asked why a new batch was dropped now, one military spokesman said the answer was a simple one: "They're firing at us and we want them to stop."

The drop follows Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's charge earlier this week that Iraq's continued efforts to shoot down allied planes in the no-fly zones were signs of its contempt for the international community.

Mr. Rumsfeld vowed coalition planes would continue to strike back against Iraqi air defense targets to protect the lives of American and British pilots.

The latest coalition air-strike in southern Iraq also occurred Thursday --- this one aimed at what the Pentagon describes as an Iraqi air defense sector headquarters and integrated operations center near Tallil, some 250 kilometers southeast of Baghdad. The military says it is still assessing the extent of the damage to the target.

Iraqi authorities repeatedly claim such attacks have caused civilian casualties and damage. But the Pentagon says civilian populations and infrastructure are never targeted. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/FC