ebpda9
09-12-2002, 10:48 AM
Today's activity, sources said, involved two Russian-made MiGs flying 50 miles south of the no-fly zone boundary. The Iraqis wait until U.S. and British "manned" aircraft have cleared the area, then they take the risk and go after the drones, sources said
In today's incident, video shot from cameras mounted on the Predator captured the MiGs firing cannons at the plane. In this case, the Predator was untouched and there was no immediate U.S. response.
In a similar incident last weekend, coalition forces returned to the zone quickly and took out an Iraqi command bunker.
A More Nervous Iraq
What does this higher level of Iraqi air force activity indicate? A more nervous Iraqi military, officials speculate — possibly a growing need for Iraq to shoot down "something" even if it's not a manned aircraft.
And it clearly represents Iraq's slightly higher willingness to take the risk of venturing into the no-fly zone.
The United States created no-fly zones in Iraq in 1991, after the Gulf War. U.S. and British fighter jets patrol the southern Iraqi skies to keep Saddam Hussein from targeting minority Shiite Muslims. In the north, the jets are flying to protect Kurds.
The U.S. lost a Predator in Iraq last August. Saddam claimed his fighters had shot it down, but that was not confirmed by the Pentagon.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/iraq020910.html?partner=earthlink
In today's incident, video shot from cameras mounted on the Predator captured the MiGs firing cannons at the plane. In this case, the Predator was untouched and there was no immediate U.S. response.
In a similar incident last weekend, coalition forces returned to the zone quickly and took out an Iraqi command bunker.
A More Nervous Iraq
What does this higher level of Iraqi air force activity indicate? A more nervous Iraqi military, officials speculate — possibly a growing need for Iraq to shoot down "something" even if it's not a manned aircraft.
And it clearly represents Iraq's slightly higher willingness to take the risk of venturing into the no-fly zone.
The United States created no-fly zones in Iraq in 1991, after the Gulf War. U.S. and British fighter jets patrol the southern Iraqi skies to keep Saddam Hussein from targeting minority Shiite Muslims. In the north, the jets are flying to protect Kurds.
The U.S. lost a Predator in Iraq last August. Saddam claimed his fighters had shot it down, but that was not confirmed by the Pentagon.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/iraq020910.html?partner=earthlink