November 7, 2002
Release 02-11-02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION FORCES STRIKE AIR DEFENSE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY/INTEGRATED OPERATIONS CENTER
MACDILL AFB, FL -- In response to Iraqi hostile acts against Coalition aircraft monitoring the Southern No-Fly Zone, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH Coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons today to target an air defense operations facility and integrated operations center near Al Kut, approximately 95 miles southeast of Baghdad. The strike occurred at about 6:20 a.m. EST.
Target battle damage assessment is ongoing.
Coalition strikes in the No-Fly Zones are executed as a self-defense measure in response to Iraqi hostile threats and acts against Coalition forces and their aircraft. Today's strike came after Iraqi forces fired surface to air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery at Coalition aircraft in the Southern No-Fly Zone. The last Coalition strikes in the Southern No-Fly Zone were yesterday, November 6, against surface-to-air missile systems (SAM) near Al Kut and a command and control communications facility near Tallil.
Coalition aircraft never target civilian populations or infrastructure and go to painstaking lengths to avoid injury to civilians and damage to civilian facilities.
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