The United States on Tuesday August 7, 2001,
bombed an Iraqi multiple rocket launcher in
northern Iraq in what Pentagon officials said was
an immediate response to a provocation.
Pentagon sources told CNN that the United
States has "put on hold" plans for
large-scale retaliatory air strikes because of
concern that the negative reaction from U.S.
allies in the region is not worth the limited
effect the bombing would have on Iraqi air
defenses.
The United States on Tuesday August 7, 2001,
bombed an Iraqi multiple rocket launcher in
northern Iraq in what Pentagon officials said was
an immediate response to a provocation.
Pentagon sources say the Iraqi rocket launcher
fired three surface-to-air missiles at U.S. planes
patrolling the northern no-fly zone imposed by
the Western coalition, and a U.S. Air Force F-16
dropped two laser-guided bombs at the launcher
in response.
The bomb damage has not been completely
assessed, but a Pentagon official said it is
believed the bombs hit the target, which is north
of the Iraqi town of Mosul.
There was no immediate response from Baghdad.
The Pentagon said it was the first strike
against Iraqi air defenses since July 17, when
U.S. planes bombed an air defense site
in the
southern no-fly zone.
The last time U.S. planes bombed in the
northern no-fly zone was June 14.
Pentagon sources told CNN that the United
States has "put on hold" plans for
large-scale retaliatory air strikes because of
concern that the negative reaction from U.S.
allies in the region is not worth the limited
effect the bombing would have on Iraqi air
defenses.
Sources said the United States is back to its
usual policy of striking smaller targets that
threaten coalition planes on an "as
needed" basis, and say Tuesday’s strike is an
example of that.
Meanwhile, military sources said Monday that
Iraq continues to violate the no-fly zones.
Sources said on Saturday that an Iraqi MiG-23
flew some 60 miles into the southern no-fly zone,
near where a U.S. predator unmanned aerial
vehicle was conducting surveillance.
The Iraqi jet left the no-fly zone before U.S.
planes could respond.
The United States has also returned to its
normal military posture of having one aircraft
carrier in the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. briefly had two carriers last week in
the Gulf when the USS Enterprise arrived to
relieve the USS Constellation, but the
Constellation left Saturday.
On June 26, a statement from the U.S. Central
Command said there have been "more than 900
separate incidents of Iraqi surface-to-air
missile and anti-aircraft artillery fire directed
at coalition aircraft since December 1998,
including more than 275 in this calendar
year."
Northern and southern no-fly zones were put in
place over Iraq following the 1991 Persian Gulf
War as part of an effort to prevent the Baghdad
government of President Saddam Hussein from
persecuting the minority Shiite Muslims in the
south and the Kurdish population in northern Iraq.
When was the last time the U.S. Bombed Iraq? –http://www.ccmep.org/us_bombing_watch.html
[ also see related items:
Coalition Jet Hits Iraqi Anti-Aircraft Site – http://www.theexperiment.org/articles.php?news_id=1613
The United States is Still Bombing Iraq – http://www.theexperiment.org/articles.php?news_id=1438
The United States is Bombing Iraq – http://www.theexperiment.org/articles.php?news_id=1378
Yes, “We” are STILL Bombing Iraq – http://www.theexperiment.org/articles.php?news_id=1313
Yes, “We” Are Still Bombing Iraq – http://www.theexperiment.org/articles.php?news_id=735
Update On the Continued Bombing of Iraq – http://www.theexperiment.org/articles.php?news_id=542 ]
Author: Jamie McIntyre
News Service: CNN
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