DATE=3/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246326
TITLE=IRAQ CLASH (S & L, UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=


INTRO:  U-S WARPLANES LAUNCHED NEW ATTACKS ON IRAQI AIR DEFENSE 
INSTALLATIONS IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONES OVER IRAQ
SATURDAY.  THE LATEST CLASHES COME JUST TWO DAYS AFTER IRAQ 
RESUMED PUMPING OIL THROUGH A PIPELINE DAMAGED IN SIMILAR STRIKES
EARLIER IN THE WEEK.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON.

TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE INCIDENTS BEGAN WHEN IRAQI RADAR AND 
ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS TARGETED U-S AIRCRAFT NEAR MOSUL IN THE NORTH.
THE PILOTS RESPONDED BY BOMBING FIVE IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT SITES.

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN TERRY SUTHERLAND SAYS SIMILAR PROVOCATIONS 
SPARKED LATER U-S ATTACKS ON AIR DEFENSE TARGETS IN SOUTHERN 
IRAQ. 

                     /// SOUTHERLAND ACT ///

         AN IRAQI MILITARY RADAR SITE AND A SURFACE-TO-AIR 
         MISSILE SITE 160 KILOMETERS NORTH WEST OF AL BASRAH, AND
         A MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY NEAR THE AL BASRAH, 
         AREA.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE ATTACKS ARE THE LATEST IN ALMOST DAILY CLASHES BETWEEN IRAQI 
AND WESTERN FORCES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.  LAST SUNDAY, U-S 
PLANES STRUCK AN IRAQI COMMUNICATIONS SITE, SHUTTING DOWN A 
PIPELINE THAT CARRIES IRAQI OIL TO NEIGHBORING TURKEY.  THE 
ATTACK DREW CRITICISM FROM TURKEY, WHICH ALLOWS WESTERN PLANES TO
BE BASED IN ITS TERRITORY.

                    /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///

U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAID FRIDAY THAT U-S FORCES 
WILL AVOID FUTURE ATTACKS ON THE PIPELINE.  

THE OIL EXPORTS EARN IRAQ FOREIGN EXCHANGE TO BUY FOOD AND 
MEDICINE FOR ITS PEOPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN HURT BY YEARS OF ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS. 

U-S OFFICIALS SAY ATTACKS OVER RECENT MONTHS HAVE DESTROYED ABOUT
20 PER CENT OF IRAQ'S AIR DEFENSES.  A TRADE EMBARGO IMPOSED 
AFTER IRAQ'S 1990 INVASION OF KUWAIT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR 
BAGHDAD TO REPLACE RADARS, COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND MISSILES 
LOST IN THE CONTINUING STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF IRAQI SKIES. 

/// OPT /// THE NO-FLY ZONES BAN IRAQI FLIGHTS FROM MORE THAN 
HALF OF IRAQ'S AIR SPACE TO PROTECT DISSIDENT KURDS AND SHI'ITE 
MUSLIMS FROM IRAQI AIR ATTACK.  BAGHDAD CALLS THE ZONES ILLEGAL 
AND FREQUENTLY CHALLENGES U-S AND BRITISH PLANES ENFORCING THE 
FLIGHT EXCLUSION ZONES. /// END OPT /// (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/GE

06-Mar-99 1:21 PM EST (1821 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.