U.S. aircraft have bombed Iraqi air defense positions. This action took place after Iraqi air defenses attacked U.S. planes patrolling the no-fly zone in northern Iraq. The U.S. European Command states that Iraqi air defenses launched an attack from a position north of Mosul against U.S. aircraft. According to the U.S. European Command, in response to the Iraqi attack, U.S. aircraft targeted parts of the Iraqi air defense system with precision-guided munitions. U.S. officials say all aircraft safely left the area. The last such confrontation occurred three weeks ago in the northern Iraq no-fly zone. U.S. and British aircraft, flying from the Incirlik base in Turkey, patrol the skies in this region to prevent threats from the Iraqi air force against the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. For over 10 years, coalition forces have declared two no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq.
U.S. Aircraft Bomb Iraqi Air Defense Positions - 2002-02-28
U.S. aircraft bombed Iraqi air defense positions after being attacked by Iraqi forces in a no-fly zone. This incident highlights ongoing tensions in the region, particularly regarding U.S. military operations and the protection of Kurdish areas in Iraq.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
U.S. aircraft bombed Iraqi air defense positions after being attacked by those defenses while patrolling a no-fly zone in northern Iraq. This was a response to an Iraqi air defense attack on U.S. planes.
- The U.S. has maintained no-fly zones in Iraq for over a decade.
- The last confrontation prior to this incident occurred three weeks ago.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. has enforced no-fly zones in Iraq since the Gulf War to protect Kurdish and Shiite populations from Iraqi air attacks. This has led to frequent military confrontations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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