Iraqi missiles intercept raiding warplanes

The Iraqi missiles and anti- aircraft means have intercepted US and British planes which were flying in the Iraqi airspace.

An Iraqi military spokesman in Baghdad explained on Monday that several US and British formations backed by AWACS planes carried out 18 armed sorties over the provinces of Dahouk, Irbil and Ninwa.

The military spokesman added that other US and British warplanes formations supported by AWACS planes also carried out other 18 armed sorties over areas in the provinces of Zee Qaar and al-Muthanna to the south of Iraq and forced them to flee back to their bases.

The spokesman stressed that the total number of US and British warplanes over north and south Iraq has reached 34711 armed sorties since December 1998.