DATE=2/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245554
TITLE=IRAQ / U-S RAIDS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S WARPLANES HAVE AGAIN ATTACKED IRAQI DEFENSES IN 
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ.  V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT 
SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS FIVE CIVILIANS WERE 
KILLED AND 22 WERE WOUNDED IN AN ATTACK IN SOUTHERN IRAQ.

TEXT:  THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS THE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES WERE 
CAUSED BY U-S JETS BASED IN KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA.  U-S 
OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THE PLANES ATTACKED IRAQI GROUND DEFENSES IN 
THE SOUTH AFTER BEING TARGETED, BUT SAID THEY HAD  NO  DETAILS OF
ANY CASUALTIES.

THE U-S MILITARY ANNOUNCED TWO CLASHES ALSO OCCURRED IN NORTHERN 
IRAQ  (MONDAY) BETWEEN IRAQI DEFENSES AND U-S PLANES BASED IN 
TURKEY.  THEY SAID A U-S PLANE DROPPED A BOMB ON AN IRAQI 
ARTILLERY INSTALLATION NEAR THE NORTHERN CITY OF MOSUL. AND THEY 
SAID A U-S PLANE FIRED A GUIDED MISSILE AT AN IRAQI RADAR UNIT 
AFTER BEING TARGETED.  THERE WAS  NO  WORD ON CASUALTIES.

CLASHES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING ALMOST DAILY BETWEEN IRAQI FORCES AND
WESTERN PLANES PATROLLING THE NO-FLY ZONES OVER NORTHERN AND 
SOUTHERN IRAQ.  THE NO-FLY ZONES WERE ESTABLISHED AFTER THE GULF 
WAR TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS FROM AIR ATTACKS BY IRAQI 
FORCES.  IRAQ CALLS THE NO-FLY ZONES ILLEGAL AND HAS MOUNTED A 
CAMPAIGN TO ELIMINATE THEM.

IRAQ HAS ISSUED A VEILED THREAT AGAINST KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA, 
SAYING ITS FORCES COULD STRIKE BASES IN THEIR TERRITORIES IF THEY
CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM TO BE USED BY WESTERN AIR PATROLS OVER 
SOUTHERN IRAQ.

IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ MET WITH SENIOR TURKISH 
OFFICIALS MONDAY, URGING THEM TO WITHDRAW PERMISSION FOR U-S AND 
BRITISH WAR PLANES TO USE A TURKISH AIR BASE FOR PATROLS OVER 
NORTHERN IRAQ.  THE TURKISH NEWS AGENCY QUOTED TURKEY'S FOREIGN 
MINISTER AS SAYING TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY DOES  NOT  CHANGE 
BECAUSE OF A VISIT.

A SENIOR U-S AIR FORCE GENERAL ALSO MET TURKISH OFFICIALS IN 
ANKARA MONDAY. THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY SAID THE GENERAL'S 
PRESENCE REFLECTED THE IMPORTANCE THE U-S GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO 
ITS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY.

                       ///  REST OPT  ///

CLASHES OVER THE NO-FLY ZONES HAVE INTENSIFIED SINCE THE U-S AND 
BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ TWO MONTHS AGO.  MANY 
GOVERNMENTS CRITICIZED THE AIR STRIKES BECAUSE THEY HURT 
CIVILIANS.  BUT MANY ALSO CRITICIZED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR 
FAILING TO COOPERATE WITH THE U-N DISARMAMENT PROGRAM.

IRAQ ADOPTED A POLICY OF DEFIANCE FOLLOWING THE AIR STRIKES.  
SINCE THEN IT HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH MOST U-N PROGRAMS AND
HAS CRITICIZED ARAB NATIONS FOR FAILING TO BACK ITS CALL FOR AN 
UNCONDITIONAL END TO ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH

15-Feb-99 11:42 AM EST (1642 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.