U.S. planes strike Iraqi air defenses

By Jamie McIntyre
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. jets bombed air defense sites in northern and southern Iraq Tuesday in what the Pentagon said was a response to hostile fire and recent improvements in Iraqi air defense capability.

The United States says the attacks were in self-defense, and in response to continuing efforts by Iraqi to shoot down U.S. and British planes enforcing the no-fly zone.

In the north, the attack against a radar site was in direct response to anti-aircraft artillery fire and hostile radar activity Tuesday, according to the U.S. European Command.

Sources say three HARM [High-Speed Anti Radiation Missiles] missiles were fired at an Iraqi radar that was being used to target U.S. planes.

In the south, the strikes were heavier and not in response to a specific event. Rather, they are part of the U.S. effort to degrade Iraqi air defenses that Iraq has reconstituted in recent months.

RESOURCES • Message Board: Iraq   • Country Profile: Iraq

"Today's strikes are in response to recent Iraqi hostile threats, including enhancement of its air defense systems against coalition aircraft monitoring the no-fly zones," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.

Pentagon sources say three sites were hit in the south by U.S. and British planes, including Air Force F-16s, Navy F-18s from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, and British GR-1s.

The targets included a surface-to-air missile launcher and two anti-aircraft guns, located at As-Samawah about 130 miles southeast of Baghdad, according to Pentagon sources.

About 40 planes took part in the strikes in the southern no-fly zone, including about 15 strikes aircraft and 25 support planes.

All U.S. planes returned safely to their bases, according to the Pentagon.