By Pamela Hess UPI Pentagon Correspondent From the International Desk Published 11/6/2002 11:36 AM View printer-friendly version

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. and British jets bombed two Iraqi surface-to-air missile systems and a command-and-control facility in southern Iraq Wednesday, the 17th time since September such strikes have been carried out, U.S. Central Command announced.

The missile systems were near Al Kut, about 100 miles southeast of Baghdad and the command facility was near Tallil, 160 miles southeast of Baghdad. The strike occurred around 1:30 p.m.

Both sites have been hit multiple times over the last few months, Missiles and radar sites in Tallil have been hit at least nine times since September. Al Kut has been struck three times since September, after threatening coalition aircraft or engaging in unspecified "hostile acts," according to Central Command.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld directed his commanders earlier this year to target not just the tactical weapons sites threatening aircraft in Iraq but the higher-value command facilities that provide targeting coordinates.

Since Sept 16, when Iraq President Saddam Hussein said he would allow U.N. arms inspectors access to his country to search for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, Iraq has fired on U.S. and British aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones more than 125 times, predominantly in the southern no-fly zone.

The no-fly zones were created shortly after the Persian Gulf War by agreement of the United States, Britain and France to protect Kurdish minorities in the north and Shiites in the south, in keeping with U.N. resolutions that called on Saddam not to target the groups.

No-fly zone enforcement went relatively unchallenged for nearly seven years until 1998, when Iraq blocked U.N. arms inspectors from carrying out unfettered inspections. The inspectors were withdrawn and the United States and Britain launched a 4-day retaliatory attack on Baghdad known as Operation Desert Fox. Following that campaign, Saddam directed his gunners to fire on coalition aircraft and offered a reward for any U.S. pilot or plane shot down.

Copyright © 2002 United Press International By Pamela Hess UPI Pentagon Correspondent From the International Desk Published 11/6/2002 11:36 AM

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. and British jets bombed two Iraqi surface-to-air missile systems and a command-and-control facility in southern Iraq Wednesday, the 17th time since September such strikes have been carried out, U.S. Central Command announced.

The missile systems were near Al Kut, about 100 miles southeast of Baghdad and the command facility was near Tallil, 160 miles southeast of Baghdad. The strike occurred around 1:30 p.m.

Both sites have been hit multiple times over the last few months, Missiles and radar sites in Tallil have been hit at least nine times since September. Al Kut has been struck three times since September, after threatening coalition aircraft or engaging in unspecified "hostile acts," according to Central Command.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld directed his commanders earlier this year to target not just the tactical weapons sites threatening aircraft in Iraq but the higher-value command facilities that provide targeting coordinates.

Since Sept 16, when Iraq President Saddam Hussein said he would allow U.N. arms inspectors access to his country to search for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, Iraq has fired on U.S. and British aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones more than 125 times, predominantly in the southern no-fly zone.

The no-fly zones were created shortly after the Persian Gulf War by agreement of the United States, Britain and France to protect Kurdish minorities in the north and Shiites in the south, in keeping with U.N. resolutions that called on Saddam not to target the groups.

No-fly zone enforcement went relatively unchallenged for nearly seven years until 1998, when Iraq blocked U.N. arms inspectors from carrying out unfettered inspections. The inspectors were withdrawn and the United States and Britain launched a 4-day retaliatory attack on Baghdad known as Operation Desert Fox. Following that campaign, Saddam directed his gunners to fire on coalition aircraft and offered a reward for any U.S. pilot or plane shot down.

Copyright © 2002 United Press International

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2002

Answers

that oughta heat things up.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2002