May 3, 1999
Web posted at: 5:43 p.m. EDT (2143 GMT)

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (CNN) -- Iraq said two people were killed and 12 injured in U.S.-British airstrikes against northern Iraq Monday.

Coalition officials from Operation Northern Watch said that Iraq fired surface-to-air missiles at coalition aircraft in the northern no-fly zone on Monday, including two missiles from a civilian area.

Coalition aircraft did not return fire on the civilian site "due to the potential of civilian casualties," a statement from Operation Northern Watch said.

"Casualties can only be ruled out if (Iraqi leader) Saddam Hussein ceases to target and attack ONW aircraft," the statement added.

It said that between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time (3 a.m. and 6 a.m. EDT), coalition aircraft were targeted by Iraqi radar and fired upon with Iraqi surface-to-air missiles.

"Responding in self-defense, U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16JC Falcons fired AGM-88 and AGM-130 missiles at surface-to-air missile sites north of (the Iraqi city of) Mosul," the U.S.-British statement said.

No coalition plane was hit and all returned safely to Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, coalition officials said.

Monday marked the 52nd day that coalition aircraft have attacked Iraqi sites since Operation Desert Fox in December.