US, British planes launch an attack on Iraq

US and British planes attacked an Iraqi service and radar building near Mosul, the largest city in north Iraq, while US and British planes soared over the two no-fly zones imposed by Washington and London on northern and southern Iraq.

A spokesman for the Iraqi air defense leadership said that 10 F-14, F-16 and F-15 planes, supported by AWAX planes for early warning, made 22 air raids over Mosul city and five Kurdish cities in northern Iraq.

The spokesman said these planes shelled buildings and weapons sites, but the Iraqi resistance confronted the US planes, obliging them to leave Iraqi airspace and return back to southern Turkey.

Meanwhile, The Iraqi air forces celebrate today the 66th anniversary of their establishment, in which Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is expected to take part.

The leader of Iraq's air forces, Khaldoon Khatab, warned US and British pilots against continuing the penetration of Iraqi airspace and called on them to halt these actions before their planes are shot down, saying that Iraq will surprise them by downing more planes. He added that the US and Britain should not believe that their upgraded planes are safe and sound in Iraq's airspace.

Khatab, moreover, added that US technology would not stand before Iraqi pilots, insisting on chasing the American pilots to teach them unforgettable lessons.