DATE=1/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244175
TITLE=IRAQ-THURSDAY-S
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S OFFICIALS SAY AMERICAN WAR PLANES ATTACKED IRAQI AIR 
DEFENSE SITES IN NORTHERN IRAQ AGAIN THURSDAY MORNING.  IT IS NOT
YET CLEAR IF ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE ON THE GROUND, BUT ALL U-S 
PLANES RETURNED SAFELY TO BASE.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.

TEXT:  U-S OFFICIALS SAY AN F-16 WAS PATROLLING THE NORTHERN NO 
FLY ZONE, NORTHWEST OF MOSUL, WHEN IT DETECTED IRAQI RADAR 
TRACKING IT.  THE PILOT QUICKLY LAUNCHED A HIGH SPEED 
ANTI-RADIATION MISSILE, CALLED A "HARM" AT THE RADAR TRANSMITTER.

A SHORT TIME LATER, A U-S F-15 FIRED A PRECISION GUIDED WEAPON AT
A SUSPECTED IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILE SITE.

AMERICAN PLANES ARE PATROLLING TO KEEP IRAQI WARPLANES OUT OF 
NORTHERN SKIES TO PROTECT THE KURDISH POPULATION THAT WAS 
ATTACKED BY BAGHDAD AFTER A FAILED UPRISING AGAINST IRAQI LEADER 
SADDAM HUSSEIN.  WASHINGTON ESTABLISHED A SIMILAR ZONE IN THE 
SOUTH TO PROTECT SHI'ITE MUSLIMS.  

THE NO FLY ZONES WERE IMPOSED A SHORT TIME AFTER THE 1991 GULF 
WAR, BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN RECOGNIZED BY IRAQ.  THURSDAY'S INCIDENT
IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN IRAQI FORCES 
AND ALLIED PLANES SINCE MID-DECEMBER'S U-S LED AIR RAIDS ON 
IRAQ'S SUSPECTED HIDING PLACES FOR BANNED WEAPONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/LTD/JO

14-Jan-99 8:22 AM EST (1322 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.