DATE=2/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245377
TITLE=IRAQ-WEDNESDAY S & L (SECOND UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: U -S AND BRITISH WARPLANES LAUNCHED A SERIES OF ATTACKS ON
AIR DEFENSES IN IRAQ'S SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE WEDNESDAY.  U-S 
OFFICIALS SAY THEY CARRIED OUT THE ATTACKS AFTER IRAQI PLANES 
ENTERED THE NO FLY ZONES AND IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS FIRED AT 
ALLIED PLANES.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.

TEXT:  U-S PLANES HIT RADAR AND RADIO FACILITIES NEAR BASRA.  AND
U-S AND BRITISH JETS DROPPED BOMBS AND MISSILES ON OTHER 
ANTI-AIRCRAFT SITES AFTER IRAQI JETS FLEW DEEP INTO THE NO-FLY 
ZONE. 

U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY ALLIED PILOTS DID  NOT  ENGAGE THE 
IRAQI PLANES AND  RETURNED SAFELY TO BASE.  IT IS THE FIRST TIME 
IN OVER A WEEK THAT U-S PLANES HAVE HIT IRAQI TARGETS.  TUESDAY 
IRAQI SAYS ITS AIR DEFENSE FORCES HIT AN INTRUDING PLANE IN THE 
NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY, BUT U-S AND BRITISH OFFICIALS DENY 
THAT.  

                   /// REST OPT FOR LONG /// 

AFTER DECEMBER'S U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES ON SUSPECTED ILLEGAL
WEAPONS SITES IN IRAQ, THERE WERE SEVERAL WEEKS OF ALMOST DAILY 
CLASHES AS IRAQ BEGAN ACTIVELY CHALLENGING THE NO-FLY ZONES. 

THE ZONES WERE SET UP AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR TO PROTECT 
DISSIDENT POPULATIONS FROM IRAQI AIR ATTACKS. (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/ENE/JO

10-Feb-99 4:34 PM EST (2134 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.