Coalition Aircraft Hit Iraqi Air Defense Site

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2002 – Coalition aircraft hit a command and control center near al Kut Oct. 15 in retaliation for Iraqi actions.

U.S. Central Command officials said the Iraqs fired surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery at the coalition planes. Coalition aircraft dropped precision- guided munitions on the control center at 6:15 a.m. EDT.

This is the second time this month that aircraft patrolling the Southern No-fly Zone have attacked al Kut, which is about 100 miles southeast of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. On Oct. 1, U.S. aircraft bombed a mobile radar operating in the area.

It is the sixth strike this month in the Southern area. There was one strike in the Northern No-fly Zone.