THE THIRD WAVE

December 18, 1998
		For the third straight night, U.S. and British forces launched air attacks against Iraq. The following report was compiled from wire sources.

IRAQ COVERAGE Full coverage of Strikes Against Iraq. Dec. 17, 1998: Congressional reaction to the air strikes against Iraq. Dec. 17, 1998: President Clinton addresses the nation. Nov. 25, 1998: A discussion on ousting Saddam Hussein. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Shields & Gigot, the White House, and Strikes Against Iraq.   The U.N. Office of the Iraq Programme UNSCOM

For the third consecutive night, U.S. and British forces launched air strikes against targets in Iraq. The latest round of attacks came as cannons sounded off in Baghdad signaling the start of Ramadan -- the Muslim holy month. Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz announced that Ambassador Richard Butler, the U.N.'s chief weapon inspector, would never be allowed to return to Iraq. He also called the recent attacks a "criminal violation of the charter of the United Nations." Mr. Aziz spoke to the media shortly after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein addressed the nation in a televised broadcast. In his address, Mr. Hussein declared that Iraq "will not compromise or kneel in the face of injustice. We will not let evil triumph over virtue." In Washington, U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen briefed the media on the latest developments and reported that there has been no U.S. or British casualties. General Henry Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chief Staffs, also noted that some 75 targets have been hit, including Iraqi weapons plants, communication facilities and military installations. Meanwhile, Russia recalled its ambassadors to the U.S. and Great Britain in protest to the current operations. China, another permanent member of the Security Council, also condemned the U.S.-British military strikes and called for their immediate cessation. The US-British military strikes have been in response to Iraq's refusal to cooperate with U.N. weapon inspections. The U.N. Security Council will not lift its economic sanctions on Iraq until UNSCOM confirms that Iraq has destroyed all of its banned weapons. The sanctions were imposed following Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. -- Compiled from wire sources

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