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US, British planes strike command, control target in Iraq
US and British warplanes raided a military command and control target in southern Iraq on Tuesday, a US central command spokesman said.
US and British warplanes raided a military command and control target in southern Iraq on Tuesday, a US central command spokesman said.
“Coalition aircraft struck a command and control system around 3:15 am eastern time (13:45 IST) in southern Iraq,” said Captain Robert Riggle. It was near An-Nasiriyah, 275 kms southeast of Baghdad.
He gave no further details on the raid which came a day after President George W Bush said Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein needs to let (UN arms) inspectors back in his country to show US that he is not developing weapons of mass destruction. Asked what he would do if Saddam refused, Bush replied, “He'll find out.” Iraq's official news agency ‘INA’ quoted a military spokesman in Baghdad as saying, “Enemy warplanes bombed civilian installations in Zi-Qar province, wounding an Iraqi civilian. Iraqi anti-aircraft fire retaliated and forced the enemy planes to flee to their bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,” he said.
Without giving a damage report, the Iraqi spokesman said, “The planes also carried out raids on the southern province of Basra, while other US and British aircraft raided Dahuk, Arbil and Niniveh provinces, in the north.”
Almost daily incidents pit Iraq against US and British planes which overfly exclusion zones enforced by the two allies in the north and south of the country since the 1991 Gulf war. Bureau Report
He gave no further details on the raid which came a day after President George W Bush said Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein needs to let (UN arms) inspectors back in his country to show US that he is not developing weapons of mass destruction. Asked what he would do if Saddam refused, Bush replied, “He'll find out.” Iraq's official news agency ‘INA’ quoted a military spokesman in Baghdad as saying, “Enemy warplanes bombed civilian installations in Zi-Qar province, wounding an Iraqi civilian. Iraqi anti-aircraft fire retaliated and forced the enemy planes to flee to their bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,” he said.
Without giving a damage report, the Iraqi spokesman said, “The planes also carried out raids on the southern province of Basra, while other US and British aircraft raided Dahuk, Arbil and Niniveh provinces, in the north.”
Almost daily incidents pit Iraq against US and British planes which overfly exclusion zones enforced by the two allies in the north and south of the country since the 1991 Gulf war. Bureau Report