UK: BRITAIN SAYS ITS WARPLANES HAVE TAKEN PART IN AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQI AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS WITH U.S. AIRCRAFT

Record ID: 970996

  • Title: UK: BRITAIN SAYS ITS WARPLANES HAVE TAKEN PART IN AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQI AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS WITH U.S. AIRCRAFT
  • Date: 17th February 2001
  • Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (FEBRUARY 16, 2001)(ITN - NO ACCESS BBC/BSkyB/ABC (Aust)/TVNZ/.CO.UK SITES(Internet) 1. SOUNDBITE (English) BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY GEOFF HOON "We've been concerned increasing lately about the growing number of attacks on our aircrew by Iraq forces and we decided it was necessary to provide proper protection in order to ensure that our aircrew in the no fly zones were safe, The targets were Iraqi command and control systems, physically located outside the no-fly zone but actually targetting our aircraft as they conducted their patrols inside the no-fly zones. So we were entitled in international law, in self-defence, to attack them. 0.41 2. SOUNDBITE (English) BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY GEOFF HOON: "You can't always rely on what the Iraqis say there have been occasions in the past when they have claimed civilian casualties when, in fact, no aircraft were flying and no attacks were made. But I recognise there is always a risk to civilians on the ground and we conduct these operations in such a way as to minimize any risk to civilians." SOUNDBITE (English) BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY GEOFF HOON "There's certainly been an escalation in attacks on Allied aircraft in January of this year there were more attacks on our aircraft in the whole of the year 2000 and that is the main reason why we judged it necessary to ensure the safety of those aircrew by making these attacks this evening. SOUNDBITE (English) BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY GEOFF HOON "We obviously consider very carefully before we authorise missions of this kind. I'm confident that this mission has been successful. That by taking out these command and control facilities we would have severely damaged the ability of Iraq to attack coalition aircraft. To that extent I hope it will not be necessary to repeat these type of missions in the near future." 1.49 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd March 2001 12:00
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  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
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  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAA38LKLJP6KAAXQMG8QX4LK920
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  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
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