Zinni

December 21, 1998
Web posted at: 6:24 p.m. EST (2324 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nearly three-quarters of the strikes aimed against Iraqi targets last week by U.S. and British forces were "fully successful," the commander of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf said Monday.

"I have reported to (Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman) Gen. (Hugh) Shelton and Secretary (of Defense William) Cohen that I am satisfied that our goals have been achieved," Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni said at a Pentagon briefing in Washington.

Troops will remain in the Gulf region as part of the effort to contain Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the general said, adding that his forces were ready to strike again if necessary.

"I think Saddam may have learned from this, and if he's smart he wouldn't want a repeat," he said. . Zinni disputed Iraqi contentions earlier Monday that Hussein had emerged victorious from the four-day attack.

"I would say to that that a lot of infrastructure has been destroyed," he said. "There are a lot of troops that have no place to go home to. I don't know how you could call that a victory."

Zinni said the airstrikes hit 85 percent of their targets, with 74 percent deemed a complete success. Still more strikes, he said, had lesser degrees of success. He said he was surprised at "the complete lack of resistance in any form" from the Iraqis.

President Clinton called a halt to the airstrikes, which began last Wednesday, on Saturday. The raids were aimed at punishing Hussein for not complying with U.N. weapons inspections.

More than 30,000 troops took part in the attacks, supported by 10,000 more at bases around the world. The mission flew more than 600 sorties, over 300 of them by night, with more than 300 aircraft, Zinni said.

More than 600 pieces of ordnance were used to target 100 sites. Forty ships performed strike and support roles.