US, UK attack Iraqi radar
2002-12-29 19:04
Washington - US and British planes on Sunday attacked two Iraqi military radar bases, the US military said.
The US Central Command said in a statement the latest attack in the no-fly zone in southern Iraq came "in response to Iraqi acts against coalition aircraft" policing the zone.
It said the sites were near Ad Diwaniyah, about 120km south of Baghdad and the attacks were carried out about 12:40 GMT.
"The coalition executed today's strike after Iraqi forces moved the system into the southern no-fly zone. Its presence was a threat to coalition aircraft," said the command statement.
"Target battle damage assessment is ongoing," it added.
The last US-British attack in the no-fly zone was on Friday when US and British jets struck an Iraqi military air defence command and control system, "which supported highly mobile surface-to-air missile systems" near Al Kut, 150km south-east of Baghdad.
Attacks in the no-fly zones of southern and northern Iraq have increased as the United States has stepped up pressure on Iraq over its weapons programmes and built up a military force around Iraq. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA