![](xin_040102111517471188873.gif) |
American bombers led the
raids on southern Iraq |
England have
American, British and French fighter jets have carried out a series of
bombing raids over southern Iraq.
The Gulf War Allies targeted missile sites and aircraft command and
control bases.
The air raids took place early this evening, (1700 GMT) led by American
stealth fighter bombers, based in Saudi Arabia.
Planes were also deployed from a US aircraft carrier in the Gulf, and
British tornado bombers and French mirage jets joined the attack.
Initial reports suggest the mission was successful and there were no
allied casualties.
US President George Bush ordered the attacks to "teach Saddam Hussein a
short, sharp lesson".
The Iraqis have repeatedly breached the "no-fly zone" set up after the
Gulf War and made a number of military raids over the border into Kuwait.
The Iraqi ambassador to the UN, Nizar Hamdoon, has said the raids into
Kuwait will stop.
White House spokesman, Marlin Fitzwater, said: "The government of Iraq
should understand that continued defiance of UN security council
resolutions will not be tolerated."
He said if the cross-border raids continued, there would further
attacks without warning.
The UK Prime Minister, John Major, called the action "limited and
proportionate".
He said it would mean British planes could once again operate in safety
in the no-fly zone.
The BBC's correspondent in Baghdad, Michael Macmillan, says the air
raids are likely to strengthen support for Saddam Hussein.
Sanctions imposed since the Gulf War are biting hard and the Iraqi
people support his defiance against the West.