VOA: Iraqi No-Fly Zone

[root at newsdesk.aps.nl]

From: newsdesk at newsdesk.aps.nl (Newsdesk Amsterdam)
Subject: Re: VOA: Iraqi No-Fly Zone
Reply-To: root at newsdesk.aps.nl

------ Forwarded from : Haldun Haznedar <haldun at avalanche.micro.ti.com> --------

date=3/21/95
byline= David Swan

Intro: The Turkish offensive against Kurdish separatist rebels
in northern Iraq has temporarily grounded the allied warplanes
that usually patrol the area. VOA's Pentagon correspondent
David Swan has details.

Text: For a second day (Tuesday), coalition jets stayed out of
the skies in the no-fly zone above the 36th paralell. The zone
was created after the Gulf War to protect the Kurds from the
Iraqi air force.

Now, with the heavy fighting between Turkish and separatist
forces, Pentagon spokesman Dennis Boxx says the mission has
become more dangerous and may not resume until the campaign is
over.

                         // Boxx act //

         The theater commander there needs to make decisions
         about to what degree he wants to put his personnel at
         risk and I think that the view at this point is its
         simply better to not put those people at risk until
         this situation is resolved.

                          // end act //

Authorities are also worried about possible "Friendly fire"
incidents -- especially after American fighters shot down US
helicopters in the same region last April.

The coalition is still keeping watch on the no-fly zone. So far,
there are no reports the Iraqis are taking advantage of the
allied standdown to send their own aircraft against the Kurds.

21-Mar-95 3:38 pm EST (2038 utc)

Source: Voice of America

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