• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

ONW Coalition Forces Target Iraqi Surface-to-Surface Missile System

UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND, Stuttgart Germany (February 25, 2003) In response to Iraqi threats to coalition forces monitoring Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, Operation Northern Watch aircraft used precision-guided weapons to target three surface-to-surface missile systems today from 5 to 6:30 p.m. EST.

Coalition aircraft engaged the mobile missile launchers approximately 6 miles south of Mosul and then continued to enforce the no-fly zone in northern Iraq.

All coalition aircraft departed the area safely. Target damage assessment is ongoing.

The coalition carried out today's strike after Iraqi forces moved the mobile surface-to-surface missile systems above the 36th parallel-inside the northern no-fly zone-and in range to threaten coalition forces.

Coalition aircraft have been enforcing the northern no-fly zone for approximately 12 years. Since Dec. 28, 1998, Saddam Hussein has opted to challenge this enforcement by firing at coalition aircraft with surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery and by targeting them with weapons radar.

The last time Operation Northern Watch responded to Iraqi threats was Jan. 31, 2003 when coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons in self-defense to strike Iraqi anti-aircraft-artillery approximately 10 miles east of Mosul.