Washington, Mar 02: Iraq has placed Surface-to-Surface missiles within range of Kuwait in recent weeks, prompting a series of US airstrikes and opening a new phase in the low-grade air war between Baghdad and Washington, the New York Times reported today. The newspaper cited us officials who fear that Iraq's surface-to-surface missiles and rockets could threaten a US-led invasion force, allies like Kuwait, and Iraqi opponents of President Saddam Hussein. The newspaper reported that Iraq seemed to be trying obtain the ability to threaten Kuwait and to hit us forces, slowing a possible US attack.
Because Iraq's missiles are mobile and have sufficient range to reach Kuwait city, attacking them also is seen as an important gesture to the Kuwaiti government, underscoring US intentions to defend the country as tensions with Iraq rise. Increasingly frequent us airstrikes on Iraq, focused on disabling the country's air defences, usually have been intended to enforce the no-flight zones over southern and northern Iraq and to make it easier for the us to achieve air superiority in the event of war, the news paper wrote. The New York Times report comes one day after Iraq began to destroy its al Samoud 2 missiles, which the United Nations said exceeded the 150-km range limit it set to restrict Iraq's offensive ability.
Bureau Report