DATE=5/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248900
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: AMERICAN JETS AND IRAQI FORCES HAVE CLASHED AGAIN IN THE 
NO-FLY ZONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ NEAR (THE CITY OF) MOSUL -- WITH 
POSSIBLE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE U-S MILITARY SAYS THE PLANES ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE 
AFTER BEING TARGETED BY IRAQI RADARS AND FIRED ON BY 
ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES.  IN RESPONSE, THE PILOTS LAUNCHED THEIR 
OWN MISSILES.  THEY ALSO DROPPED LASER-GUIDED BOMBS ON ONE IRAQI 
BATTERY. 

HOWEVER, OFFICIALS SAY A RADAR SITE WAS NOT HIT WITH BOMBS 
BECAUSE IT WAS BASED IN A CIVILIAN AREA.  THE PLANES BROKE OFF 
THE ATTACK AFTER FIRING A SINGLE HIGH-SPEED ANTI-RADAR MISSILE.  
THE GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD CLAIMS CIVILIANS HAVE DIED IN PREVIOUS 
STRIKES.  PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS PRESIDENT SADDAM 
HUSSEIN IS ENDANGERING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

                         // BACON ACT //

         ONE OF HIS TACTICS NOW MAY BE TO PLACE HIS AIR-DEFENSE 
         SYSTEMS IN CIVILIAN NEIGHBORHOODS THINKING THAT HE CAN 
         CHALLENGE US WITH IMPUNITY, BECAUSE HE'S DONE THAT.  I 
         THINK THAT'S NOT ONLY A RISKY STRATEGY FOR HIM BUT FOR 
         HIS CIVILIANS.

                          // END ACT //

THE AMERICAN PLANES RETURNED SAFELY TO BASE IN (INCIRLIK) TURKEY.
THE IRAQIS HAVE TARGETED COALITION JETS IN THE NO-FLY ZONES 
FAIRLY OFTEN SINCE LAST DECEMBER. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/PHW/JO

03-May-99 4:03 PM EDT (2003 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.