DATE=2/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245766
TITLE=IRAQ STRIKE (S ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS ITS AIR DEFENSES HAVE 
CONFRONTED WESTERN WARPLANES OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ AND ONE OF THE 
PLANES MAY HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN.  BUT U-S AND BRITISH FORCES THAT 
PATROL THE NO-FLY ZONES OVER IRAQ DENY THE REPORTS, AS WE HEAR 
FROM CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.

TEXT:  THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY QUOTES A MILITARY COMMUNIQUE AS 
SAYING IRAQI DEFENSES (SUNDAY) INTERCEPTED WHAT IT CALLS HOSTILE 
FORMATIONS.  IT SAYS ONE OF THE PLANES IN THE FORMATION MAY HAVE 
BEEN HIT BY AN IRAQI MISSILE.

BRITISH OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR AIRCRAFT WERE PATROLLING THE 
SKIES OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ, BUT SAY THEY RETURNED SAFELY TO BASE.  
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE IRAQI REPORT IS FALSE AND ALL MORNING 
FLIGHTS OVER THE SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE WERE UNEVENTFUL.

THERE HAVE BEEN CLASHES ON VIRTUALLY A DAILY BASIS BETWEEN 
WESTERN AIR PATROLS AND IRAQI AIR DEFENSES OVER THE NO-FLY ZONES 
SINCE THE U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES LAST DECEMBER.  IRAQ 
CONSIDERS THE NO-FLY ZONES ILLEGAL AND IS PRESSING FOR AN END TO 
THE PATROLS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/DW/RAE



21-Feb-99 9:31 AM EST (1431 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.