March 19, 1999
Web posted at: 8:58 a.m. EDT (0858 GMT)

MCDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida (CNN) -- U.S. and British aircraft attacked air defense systems Friday in Iraq's southern "no-fly" zone, U.S. military officials said.

Several U.S. Air Force F-16s and Royal Air Force Tornadoes carried out the strikes on Iraqi military sites while patrolling the area, according to the Florida-based U.S. Central Command.

U.S. planes struck a radar site near As Shuaybah, located 290 miles (465 km) southeast of Baghdad. U.S. jets also hit a communications site in the vicinity of Muzalbah, 230 miles (370 km) southeast of Baghdad, the Central Command said.

All aircraft returned safely to base and damage assessments were being made.

Friday's attacks occurred four days after the last incidents over the southern no-fly zone. U.S. jets attacked two Iraqi radar sites in the area March 15.

Friday's attacks are the latest of more than 140 incidents in the southern no-fly zone since December's Anglo-American bombing campaign, dubbed "Operation Desert Fox."

The no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq were set up in the aftermath of the 1991 Persian Gulf war. After the Desert Fox raids, Iraq announced it would no longer recognize the airspace restrictions.

Since then, the U.S. has met any threatening Iraqi action with force, and airstrikes on Iraqi installations in both no-fly zones have become routine occurrences.

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