DATE=2/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245422
TITLE=IRAQ THURSDAY - L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   U-S WARPLANES BOMBED IRAQI MILITARY FACILITIES FOR THE 
SECOND STRAIGHT DAY THURSDAY.  U-S OFFICIALS SAY IRAQ SPARKED 
THIS LATEST SERIES OF INCIDENTS BY SENDING JETS INTO THE NO-FLY 
ZONES AND TARGETING U-S PLANES WITH ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS AND RADAR.
BAGHDAD SAYS AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE DIED ON THE GROUND.  V-O-A'S JIM
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE ACTIONS BEGAN IN THE NORTH 
WHEN A U-S PILOT NOTICED ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS FIRING AT HIM. OTHER 
PILOTS DETECTED IRAQI RADAR EMISSIONS.  IN THE SOUTH, U-S ATTACKS
ON GROUND TARGETS FOLLOWED FLIGHTS BY IRAQI (MIG-23'S) JETS INTO 
THE NO-FLY ZONE.

AMERICAN PLANES USED PRECISION GUIDED BOMBS, MISSILES AND AT 
LEAST ONE RADAR-SEEKING MISSILE ON THE IRAQI TARGETS.  THOSE 
TARGETS INCLUDED RADARS, MISSILE SYSTEMS AND COMMUNICATIONS 
STATIONS. 

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY SAYS THE COMMUNICATIONS 
EQUIPMENT IS A TARGET BECAUSE IT ALLOWS IRAQI RADARS IN ONE PART 
OF THE COUNTRY TO SEND TARGETING INFORMATION TO WEAPONS 
ELSEWHERE.  HE SAYS THAT MAKES THE MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS 
SYSTEMS A THREAT TO U-S WARPLANES.

                      /// DOUBLEDAY ACT ///

         WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE 
         EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THESE THREATS WHERE EVER THEY 
         OCCUR.

                         /// END ACT ///

ALL U-S PLANES RETURNED SAFELY TO BASE.  OFFICIALS IN BAGHDAD SAY
TWO IRAQIS WERE KILLED AND SEVERAL WERE HURT IN THE ATTACKS.

THE SECOND DAY OF CLASHES FOLLOWS A WEEK-LONG LULL IN THE 
STRUGGLE TO CONTROL IRAQI AIR SPACE. THE NO-FLY ZONES, 
ESTABLISHED AFTER THE GULF WAR, BAN IRAQI AIRCRAFT FROM ABOUT 60 
PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/WDC/JO   

11-Feb-99 3:29 PM EST (2029 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.