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US AND UK JETS ATTACK IRAQI UNITS
British and American warplanes bombed targets in southern Iraq as the deadline for war approached.
JETS ATTACK IRAQI UNITS
Last Updated: 00:26 UK, Thursday March 20, 2003
British and American warplanes bombed targets in southern Iraq as the deadline for war approached.
Sky News correspondent James Forlong is on board the American aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf, from where 10 warplanes involved in the attack took off.
He said the aircraft - two 'Top Gun' F-14 Tomcats and eight F/A-18 Hornets - returned safely.
Forlong spoke to one of the pilots, who said their targets included an Iraqi intelligence unit and surface-to-air missile sites.
It was the first time planes from the Kitty Hawk had been involved in bombing targets in the 'no-fly' zone in southern Iraq, Forlong said.
A military spokeswoman on the ship told Associated Press that laser-guided, precision weapons were used.
"This is clearly part of a more aggresive targeting of targets on the ground," Forlong said.
Referring to an imminent full-scale attack, he added: "The mood on the ship now is one of nervous anticipation. Everyone here knows it is very close."
Chemical
Pentagon sources said 10 artillery pieces were destroyed.
The Pentagon feared they may have had chemical or biological weapons which could be used on US and UK troops massing on the border with Kuwait, reports in America said.
The UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed British RAF planes were involved.
An MoD spokeswoman described the patrols as "standard 'no-fly' zone activity".
"We are targeting systems which are a threat to our forces," the spokeswoman said.
British and US aircraft have been patrolling the northern and southern "no-fly" zones since the end of the last Gulf War.
The patrols have stepped up in recent weeks, targeting Iraqi air defence systems in preparation for the expected invasion.
The attack came only a few hours left before the deadline issued to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was due to run out.
US President George W Bush told Saddam he must leave Iraq by 1am GMT on Thursday or face war.
© 2003 BSkyB
Last Updated: 00:26 UK, Thursday March 20, 2003
British and American warplanes bombed targets in southern Iraq as the deadline for war approached.
Sky News correspondent James Forlong is on board the American aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf, from where 10 warplanes involved in the attack took off.
He said the aircraft - two 'Top Gun' F-14 Tomcats and eight F/A-18 Hornets - returned safely.
Forlong spoke to one of the pilots, who said their targets included an Iraqi intelligence unit and surface-to-air missile sites.
It was the first time planes from the Kitty Hawk had been involved in bombing targets in the 'no-fly' zone in southern Iraq, Forlong said.
A military spokeswoman on the ship told Associated Press that laser-guided, precision weapons were used.
"This is clearly part of a more aggresive targeting of targets on the ground," Forlong said.
Referring to an imminent full-scale attack, he added: "The mood on the ship now is one of nervous anticipation. Everyone here knows it is very close."
Chemical
Pentagon sources said 10 artillery pieces were destroyed.
The Pentagon feared they may have had chemical or biological weapons which could be used on US and UK troops massing on the border with Kuwait, reports in America said.
The UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed British RAF planes were involved.
An MoD spokeswoman described the patrols as "standard 'no-fly' zone activity".
"We are targeting systems which are a threat to our forces," the spokeswoman said.
British and US aircraft have been patrolling the northern and southern "no-fly" zones since the end of the last Gulf War.
The patrols have stepped up in recent weeks, targeting Iraqi air defence systems in preparation for the expected invasion.
The attack came only a few hours left before the deadline issued to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was due to run out.
US President George W Bush told Saddam he must leave Iraq by 1am GMT on Thursday or face war.
© 2003 BSkyB
For more information:
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,3000...
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