Iraq says it fired at US, British jets
( 2001-09-26 10:56 ) (7 )

Iraq said it fired ground-to-air missiles on Tuesday at US and British fighter planes that were staging raids in the north and in the south of the country, forcing them to return to their bases.

"Enemy planes that were carrying out raids in the (northern) provinces of Dahuk, Irbil and Nineveh were forced to flee to their base in Turkey under fire from the missile batteries" and anti-air defense units, a military spokesman told the official INA news agency.

Other US and British fighters planes, who "were carrying out raids" in the south ofthe country "were forced to flee to their bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait," also under fire, the spokesman said.

Almost daily clashes over Iraqi skies maintain tensions at a high level 11 years after Washington led an international coalition that ejected Baghdad's forces from Kuwait.

Baghdad does not recognise the allied-imposed no-fly zones in the north and south of the country, which are not covered by any specific UN resolutions.

It says raids since December 1998 have killed 366 and wounded 1,056.