British and US planes attack Iraqi air defence site

US and British warplanes have attacked an air defence installation in southern Iraq in response to recent "threatening actions" from Iraq, the US Central Command has said.

Central Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rick Thomas said the target was a surface-to-air missile complex, including radars and launchers.

He said there was no preliminary assessment of bomb damage.

The attack was carried out at 0745 GMT near Al-Amarah, along the Tigris River about 180 miles (290 kilometres) south-east of Baghdad.

US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force Tornado GR-1s conducted the attack, Lt Col Thomas said.

It was the first allied attack in southern Iraq since April 19, said Central Command, which provided no details on what triggered the attack.

Lt Col Thomas said it was planned in advance to counter recent Iraqi firings of surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery in the "no fly" zone of southern Iraq.

"We choose the time and the place at which we'll conduct strikes," he said.

The announcement called the attack an act of self-defence. It said Iraqi air defences have fired on US and British planes more than 220 times since the start of the year.

"If Iraq were to cease its threatening actions, coalition strikes would cease as well," it said.