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By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent
(Filed: 06/09/2002)
About 100 American and British aircraft took part in an attack on Iraq's major western air
defence installation yesterday in the biggest single operation over the country for four
years.
Click to enlarge
The raid appeared to be a prelude to the
type of special forces operations that would have to begin weeks before a possible
American-led war. It was launched two days before a war summit between President George W
Bush and Tony Blair in America .
The Prime Minister promised that Britain would be alongside the Americans
"when the shooting starts".
The raid seemed designed to destroy air defences to allow easy access for special forces
helicopters to fly into Iraq via Jordan or Saudi Arabia to hunt down Scud missiles before a
possible war within the next few months.
Although only 12 aircraft dropped precision-guided bombs on to the H3 airfield, 240 miles
west of Baghdad and close to Jordan, many support aircraft took part.
The strikes were carried out by nine American F15 Strike Eagles and three RAF Tornado GR4
ground attack aircraft flying from
Kuwait.
At least seven types of aircraft took part. Fighter cover was provided by US F-16 Fighting
Falcons and RAF Tornado F3s from Saudi Arabia. RAF VC10 tanker aircraft flying from Bahrain
were among the support aircraft.
These also included EA6b Prowlers, which send out signals to confuse enemy radar, and E3a
Awacs aircraft that co-ordinate operations and carry out reconnaissance of any response.
RAF Tornados also took part in the reconnaissance. American central command refused to go
into detail about the number of aircraft involved in the raid.
It said: "Coalition strikes in the no-fly zones are executed as a self-defence measure in
response to Iraqi hostile threats and acts against coalition forces and their aircraft."
The Pentagon said that the raid was launched in "response to recent Iraqi hostile acts
against coalition aircraft monitoring the southern no-fly zone".
Iraq had made 130 attempts to shoot down coalition aircraft this year.
The Ministry of Defence in London refused to confirm that RAF aircraft had taken part, but
defence sources said that Tornado ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft played a key
role. The attack on what the American central command described as an "air defence command
and control facility" was the first time that a target in western Iraq had been attacked
during the patrols of the southern no-fly zone.
Until yesterday, all strikes had been against air defence sites in the south, around Basra,
Amara, Nassairya and Baghdad.
Central command said it was still assessing the damage caused by the attack. If the air
defence installation was not destroyed, a second raid is expected.
As well as blinding Iraqi radar to any special forces helicopters, the loss of the H3
installation would allow allied aircraft mounting major raids on Iraq a trouble-free route
into the country.
In a further sign that America was preparing for war, a Pentagon official confirmed that
heavy armour, ammunition and other equipment
had been moved to Kuwait from huge
stores in Qatar.
Thomas White, the army secretary, said: "We have done a lot with pre-positioned stocks in
the Gulf, making sure that they are in the right spot to support whatever the president
wants to do."
Any war on Iraq is likely to begin with a gradual intensification of attacks on air
defences. But yesterday's raid appears more likely to be related to the special forces Scud
hunts.
It was the SAS which specialised in the attempts to hunt down the Scuds during the Gulf
war. Although the raids were largely unsuccessful, they spawned a series of rival books by
former members of the regiment.
Mr Bush, speaking in Louisville, Kentucky, said that, besides having talks with Mr Blair,
he would be meeting the leaders of France, Russia, China and Canada over the next few days.
He would tell them that "history has called us into action" to oust Saddam Hussein, the
president of Iraq.
He said he was looking forward to the talks, but suggested that the US could do the job on
its own if need be.
"I am a patient man," he said. "I've got tools; we've got tools at our disposal. We cannot
let the world's worst leaders blackmail, threaten, hold freedom-loving nations hostage with
the world's worst weapons."
By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent
(Filed: 06/09/2002)
About 100 American and British aircraft took part in an attack on Iraq's major western air
defence installation yesterday in the biggest single operation over the country for four
years.
Click to enlarge
The raid appeared to be a prelude to the
type of special forces operations that would have to begin weeks before a possible
American-led war. It was launched two days before a war summit between President George W
Bush and Tony Blair in America .
The Prime Minister promised that Britain would be alongside the Americans
"when the shooting starts".
The raid seemed designed to destroy air defences to allow easy access for special forces
helicopters to fly into Iraq via Jordan or Saudi Arabia to hunt down Scud missiles before a
possible war within the next few months.
Although only 12 aircraft dropped precision-guided bombs on to the H3 airfield, 240 miles
west of Baghdad and close to Jordan, many support aircraft took part.
The strikes were carried out by nine American F15 Strike Eagles and three RAF Tornado GR4
ground attack aircraft flying from
Kuwait.
At least seven types of aircraft took part. Fighter cover was provided by US F-16 Fighting
Falcons and RAF Tornado F3s from Saudi Arabia. RAF VC10 tanker aircraft flying from Bahrain
were among the support aircraft.
These also included EA6b Prowlers, which send out signals to confuse enemy radar, and E3a
Awacs aircraft that co-ordinate operations and carry out reconnaissance of any response.
RAF Tornados also took part in the reconnaissance. American central command refused to go
into detail about the number of aircraft involved in the raid.
It said: "Coalition strikes in the no-fly zones are executed as a self-defence measure in
response to Iraqi hostile threats and acts against coalition forces and their aircraft."
The Pentagon said that the raid was launched in "response to recent Iraqi hostile acts
against coalition aircraft monitoring the southern no-fly zone".
Iraq had made 130 attempts to shoot down coalition aircraft this year.
The Ministry of Defence in London refused to confirm that RAF aircraft had taken part, but
defence sources said that Tornado ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft played a key
role. The attack on what the American central command described as an "air defence command
and control facility" was the first time that a target in western Iraq had been attacked
during the patrols of the southern no-fly zone.
Until yesterday, all strikes had been against air defence sites in the south, around Basra,
Amara, Nassairya and Baghdad.
Central command said it was still assessing the damage caused by the attack. If the air
defence installation was not destroyed, a second raid is expected.
As well as blinding Iraqi radar to any special forces helicopters, the loss of the H3
installation would allow allied aircraft mounting major raids on Iraq a trouble-free route
into the country.
In a further sign that America was preparing for war, a Pentagon official confirmed that
heavy armour, ammunition and other equipment
had been moved to Kuwait from huge
stores in Qatar.
Thomas White, the army secretary, said: "We have done a lot with pre-positioned stocks in
the Gulf, making sure that they are in the right spot to support whatever the president
wants to do."
Any war on Iraq is likely to begin with a gradual intensification of attacks on air
defences. But yesterday's raid appears more likely to be related to the special forces Scud
hunts.
It was the SAS which specialised in the attempts to hunt down the Scuds during the Gulf
war. Although the raids were largely unsuccessful, they spawned a series of rival books by
former members of the regiment.
Mr Bush, speaking in Louisville, Kentucky, said that, besides having talks with Mr Blair,
he would be meeting the leaders of France, Russia, China and Canada over the next few days.
He would tell them that "history has called us into action" to oust Saddam Hussein, the
president of Iraq.
He said he was looking forward to the talks, but suggested that the US could do the job on
its own if need be.
"I am a patient man," he said. "I've got tools; we've got tools at our disposal. We cannot
let the world's worst leaders blackmail, threaten, hold freedom-loving nations hostage with
the world's worst weapons."
