Iraqi defense forces intercept US, British warplanes

An Iraqi military spokesman said on Monday that the Iraqi anti-aircraft defense means intercepted US and British jets flying over southern Iraq.

The spokesman said that "enemy warplanes" attacked civilian establishments in southern Iraq before they were intercepted by Iraqi anti-aircraft defense means and "were forced to return to their bases."

The Iraqi military spokesman added that US and British jets flew in the airspace of the provinces of al-Basrah, Dhi Qar, Maysan, an-Najaf, al-Qadisiyah, al-Muthanna, and Karbala' in southern Iraq.

The spokesman said that total number of air "military" sorties conducted by the US and British warplanes over north and South Iraq has become 16,443.