US F-16 fighters attacked a radar system in southern Iraq Monday in retaliation for artillery fire at coalition aircraft patrolling a no-fly zone in the south, US military officials said.
The attack was the second since Saturday when US Navy F/A-18s and F-14 fighters struck an anti-aircraft battery near the port of Basrah in response to ground fire against coalition aircraft, said Major Joe Lamarca, a spokesman for the Tampa, Florida-based Central Command.
"All coalition aircraft have returned safely and target battle damage assessment is ongoing," the Tampa, Florida-based US Central Command said in a statement.
The F-16s used precision guided munitions in the attack on the anti-aircraft artillery battery near Ash Shuaybah in southern Iraq, he said. British GR-1 Tornados flew reconnaissance for the mission, he said.
The United States and Britain have launched intermittent air strikes on Iraqi air defenses since December 1998 when Baghdad said it would not recognize the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
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