Coalition
Forces Target Iraqi Military Communication Sites
January 19, 2003
MACDILL AFB,
TAMPA — In response to Iraqi hostile acts against Coalition aircraft
monitoring compliance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions
over Southern Iraq, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH Coalition aircraft
used precision-guided weapons today to target eight unmanned cable
repeater sites that are part of Iraq’s military air defense
command and control system. The sites were located between Al
Kut, approximately 95 miles southeast of Baghdad, and An Nasiriyah,
approximately 170 miles southeast of Baghdad. The strikes occurred
at approximately 7:10 a.m. EST.
Target battle
damage assessment is ongoing.
Coalition
strikes in the no-fly zones are executed as a self-defense measure
in response to Iraqi hostile threats and acts against Coalition
forces and their aircraft. The Coalition executed today’s
strike after Iraqi air defense forces fired anti-aircraft artillery
and surface-to-air missiles at Coalition aircraft patrolling the
Southern No-Fly zone.
The last Operation
Southern Watch strike was January 17, when Coalition aircraft
used precision-guided weapons to strike cable repeaters also located
between Al Kut and An Nasiriyah.
Coalition
aircraft never target civilian populations or infrastructure and
go to painstaking lengths to avoid injury to civilians and damage
to civilian facilities.