US warplanes launched a major strike Friday against three air-defense sites in southern Iraq Friday in response to recent attacks on coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone, a Pentagon official said.
About 50 aircraft -- including tankers and other support aircraft -- participated in the raid, the largest since February. All returned safely, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official said the raid was in response to "recent increases in air defense firings against coalition aircraft," and targets included "two communications nodes and surface-to-air missile sites."
Damage to the targets is still being assessed, the official said.
The air strike was the second this week in response to recent anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missile fire at coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone.
US warplanes Tuesday shattered a three-week lull by attacking a multiple-rocket launcher near Mosul in northern Iraq -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
