Iraqi planes violate no-fly zone

American planes fire 4-6 missiles at Iraqi aircraft in southern no-fly zone

Iraqi planes violate no-fly zone

* The latest altercation in the Gulf likely occurred sometime yesterday morning. Iraqi planes entered the southern no-fly zone with the apparent intent of luring American F-14s back into Iraqi air space.
(Reuters)
Up to 14 Iraqi aircraft violated the southern no-fly zone yesterday in an attempt to lure American planes back into Iraqi air space. US planes fired 4-6 air-to-air missiles on retreating Iraqi planes.
It is believed that one Iraqi plane went down, running out of gas, said Jamie McIntyre, CNN Military Affairs correspondent. He said that Iraq sent approximately 14 aircraft into the southern no-fly zone in a high-low position with the intent of getting American planes to follow them back into Iraqi air space. American planes patrol two no-fly zones: one north of the 36th latitudinal line and the other south of the 33rd latitudinal line.
American pilots in the Gulf said that they are continuing to be cautious, relying on their training. They said that it was important for them to to be careful and not to be stupid, an obvious reference to the cat-and-mouse air tactics of the Iraqi air force which would have drawn American aircraft into Iraqi air space.
All US planes involved returned safely to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Media aboard the Vinson reported that at least one F-14 Tomcat returned without a missile, causing suspicion among their ranks that something had happened. But the Pentagon imposed a media blackout for eight hours yesterday in an effort to evaluate exactly what had happened.
The missiles fired yesterday, tested but never before used in live combat, are capable of being fired from a long distance. Sources reported that American pilots may never have seen the enemy aircraft.
In a speech yesterday, Saddam Hussein criticized Saudia Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt for cooperating with the West and not serving the interest of the Arab brethren. The speech did not mention the military incident and called for all Arabs to unite.
Iraq has warned the US and Britain that it would no longer respect the no-fly zones, saying that maintaining them was a violation of its air space. "Enforcing the so-called no-fly zones is an illegal action, outside the UN Security Council resolutions and international legitimacy, and an aggressive action resisted with all bravery and honor."

George Griffis