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| PRESIDENT CLINTON ON IRAQ | |
 December 28, 1998 
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President Clinton today confirmed that U.S. and Iraqi forces had exchanged fire in the Northern No-Fly Zone. The conflict began when U.S. pilots reported being fired upon by Iraqi surface-to-air missile batteries. |
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PRESIDENT CLINTON: Ladies and gentlemen, before I get into my remarks, because this is the only opportunity I will have to appear before the press today, I think I should say a few words about an incident early this morning over the skies of Iraq, where American and British air crews were enforcing a no-fly zone in northern Iraq.They were fired on by Iraq surface-to-air missiles. They took evasive action, returned fire on the missile site, and returned safely to their base in Turkey. We enforce two no-fly zones in Iraq, one in the north, established in 1991, another in the south, established in 1992, which now stretches from the southern suburbs of Baghdad down to the Kuwaiti border. The no-fly zones have been and will remain an important part of our containment policy. Because we effectively control the skies over much of Iraq, Saddam has been unable to use air power to repress his own people or to lash out again at his neighbors. Our pilots have the authority to protect themselves if they're threatened or attacked. They took appropriate action today in responding to Iraq's actions. Once again, I want to tell you I am very proud of the work they do, the risks they take, the skill and the professionalism with which they do it. They attacked because they were attacked, and they did the appropriate thing. We will continue to enforce the no-fly zones. |
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