DATE=12/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243407
TITLE=IRAQ ATTACK DENIED  (S ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PENTAGON OFFICIALS STRONGLY DENY IRAQI NEWS REPORTS THAT 
U-S AIRCRAFT FIRED MISSILES OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ.  V-O-A'S JIM 
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT:  A BAGHDAD TELEVISION REPORT SAYS THAT AIRCRAFT PILOTED BY 
"CRIMINAL AGGRESSORS" FIRED TWO MISSILES "AT RANDOM" NEAR BASRAH 
"BEFORE FLEEING."  THE BROADCAST REPORT SAYS THE INCIDENT 
OCCURRED IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON ON TUESDAY.

A U-S AIR FORCE SPOKESMAN CALLED THE REPORT "BOGUS" (COMPLETELY 
FALSE).  

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAY DEFRANK SAYS U-S AND BRITISH WAR PLANES 
ROUTINELY PATROL THE SKIES OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ, 
ENFORCING A NO-FLY ZONE IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR.  

HE SAYS IF IRAQI FORCES THREATEN ALLIED PLANES BY POINTING AIR 
DEFENSE RADARS AT THEM, PILOTS ARE ALLOWED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES 
BY FIRING MISSILES.  BUT COL. DEFRANK AND OTHER PENTAGON 
OFFICIALS SAY NOTHING OF THAT SORT HAPPENED THIS TIME.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/KL

22-Dec-98 10:16 AM EST (1516 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.