Allies launch two attacks on Iraqi radar

US warplanes bombed air defence radars in southern Iraq twice today in an escalating conflict over Anglo-American air patrols of no fly zones in the north and the south.

The first attack targeted a radar site near Ash Shuaybah about 245 miles south-east of Baghdad at 9.20am Irish time.

About two hours later, US planes bombed a radar near the city of Tallil about 170 miles south-east of Baghdad.

In both cases, the attacks were launched because Iraq had moved the radars south of the 33rd parallel, in the no fly zone that the US and Britain established to support a UN Security Council resolution following the 1991 Gulf War. A northern zone is enforced north of the 36th parallel.

Iraq claims the zones are illegal, and it frequently fires on the patrolling pilots.

US warplanes struck air defence installations in southern Iraq twice earlier this week – on Monday and Wednesday.