Coalition Forces Respond to Iraqi Hostile Actions

 

March 1, 2003

MACDILL AFB, FL — In response to Iraqi hostile actions and threats toward Coalition aircraft monitoring compliance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH Coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons today to target Iraqi military communications sites and a mobile early-warning radar.

The communication sites were located near An Numinayah, approximately 70 miles southeast of Baghdad. The Coalition struck those targets at approximately 6:45 p.m. EST. The radar was located near An Nasiriyah, approximately 170 miles southeast of Baghdad. The Coalition struck that target at approximately 8 p.m. EST.

Target battle damage assessment is ongoing.

The Coalition struck the communications sites after Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery earlier in the day at Coalition aircraft supporting Operation Southern Watch. The Coalition struck the radar after Iraqi forces moved a related highly-mobile surface-to-air missile system into the Southern No-Fly Zone.

The last Operation Southern Watch strike was on February 28, when Coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons to target three mobile air-defense early-warning radars and a surface-to-air missile system near An Nasiriyah, approximately 170 miles southeast of Baghdad.

Coalition aircraft never target civilian populations or infrastructure and go to painstaking lengths to avoid injury to civilians and damage to civilian facilities.