US - Iraq attacks

US Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said yesterday that he does not believe the United States is carrying out a low-level war in Iraq, saying, "I would say that our pilots are every day taking actions to defend themselves as they patrol the no-fly zone."

Stressing that US planes are being fired on in the area, he added, "I think in the mind of the press it already has become a low-level war, but if it is a low-level war, it's one that's been provoked by Saddam Hussein."