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Coalition Aircraft Respond to Iraqi Attacks in Northern No-Fly Zone

27 Feb 2003

UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND - INCIRLIK AIR BASE, TURKEY - In response to Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery attacks in the northern no-fly zone, coalition aircraft dropped precision-guided weapons on fiber-optic, cable and microwave communication sites that support Iraqi military operations today at approximately 2:20 p.m. EST.

Located approximately 15 miles west and 18 miles south of Mosul, the three different communications facilities targeted are being assessed for battle damage.

All coalition aircraft departed the target areas safely and continued to enforce the northern no-fly zone.

Called Operation Northern Watch (ONW), the coalition force is composed of more than 1,400 U.S., United Kingdom and Turkish troops and more than 50 aircraft that monitor Iraqi forces to determine compliance with U. N. Security Council resolutions.

Coalition forces 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.