Us?Britain bombs Basra - 8 killed

CNN | 8/25/02 | CNN

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

CNN just announced Basra (Southern Iraq near Kuwait) has been bombed by British and US jets with 8 killed.
This war started a few weeks ago. We just didn't bother announcing it.

[cmsgop]

This war started a few weeks ago. We just didn't bother announcing it.

Are those your words or their's ?????

[CanadianFella]

Iraq usually overstates losses for sympathy. BTW, with a nick name like yours, mind telling us a bit about yourself? You seem to post mostly iraq-related articles.

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

Sorry - these are my words.
I say them because to the best of my knowledge Basra has never been targeted before.

[Semper Paratus]

CNN was quoting Iraqi sources, no US confirmation or comment.
Hitting Basra would be a new event though.

[cmsgop]

Thanks, just curious

[Senator Pardek]

If mammary serves, Basra is the HQ for the Iraqi baby formula factories, so it's a legit target.

[flying Elvis]

If true, methinks we are attempting to destablize Iraqi authorities in that area. The Shiites in that region probably would love to revenge themselves on Sadaam. This alleged strike may have been intended to send them a message that this time we won't abandon them.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[CDHart]

I'm not getting anything about it on CNN or Fox -- anyone got more info?

Carolyn

[RCW2001]

Iraq Says 8 Killed, 9 Hurt in Attack on South

Sun Aug 25, 2:05 PM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. and British jets bombed targets in southern Iraq on Sunday, killing eight people and wounding nine others, an Iraqi military spokesman said.

Britain said U.S. or British planes attacked an Iraqi radar site.

"At 8:55 a.m. local time (11:55 a.m. EDT) today U.S. and British planes ... flew 35 sorties using air bases in Kuwait," the Iraqi military spokesman said in a statement carried by the official Iraqi News Agency.

"The enemy attacked civilian and service installations in Basra province, killing eight people and wounding nine others," the spokesman said.

Basra is 343 miles south of Baghdad.

Iraq's ground air-defenses fired at the planes and they left for their bases in Kuwait, the spokesman added.

In London, a British Ministry of Defense spokesman said U.S. or British planes attacked an Iraqi radar site after they were "threatened." He insisted the United States and Britain tried to minimize casualties.

"There was a response to being threatened today," the spokesman said. "Coalition aircraft did strike at a radar site near Basra," he added without specifying whether British or U.S. aircraft were involved -- or both.

U.S. and British pilots are policing two no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq set up after the 1991 Gulf war ( news - web sites).

The zones, which Baghdad does not recognize, were imposed to protect a Kurdish enclave in the north and Shi'ite Muslims in the south from possible attacks by the Iraqi government.

The reported attack was the latest in a long series of tit-for-tat exchanges in the zones over more than a decade.

"Every effort is made by the coalition to avoid causing casualties to civilians," the British spokesman said. "A lot of times the Iraqis put out somewhat spurious accounts of casualties," he added.

The raids have increased in recent months amid threats from President Bush ( news - web sites) to oust President Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites). Washington has accused Baghdad of developing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Iraq denies the charges.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Another baby milk factory bites the dust. They keep making 'em faster than we can bomb 'em.

How are we ever supposed to be able to get that production monopoly for all of "Bush's cronies" in evil, corporate, BIG MILK in America if they keep building these factories faster than we can destroy them?

[lexington minuteman 1775]

CNN is probably upset because they won't have the equivalent of Peter Arnett bringing us live video.I like the way this President conducts a war!

[Cold Heat]

I understand CNN got tossed from Iraq because they made a mistake and got too fair and balanced. They are probably attemting to correct the situation.

BTW, Basra is where the Chinese set up all that digital communications links and anti/air command and control. We have been hitting it and looks like we hit it again.

[hgro]

The eight dead were as reported by the Iraqis. Only CNN would report this as fact.

[jackbill]

BTW, Basra is where the Chinese set up all that digital communications links and anti/air command and control. We have been hitting it and looks like we hit it again.

Looks like if and when the balloon goes up the Iraqis won't have much in the way of electronics.

[SouthernFreebird]

- 8 killed

Not enough, I hope our aim gets better

[Cachelot]

If mammary serves, Basra is the HQ for the Iraqi baby formula factories, so it's a legit target.

Let's hear it for breastfeeding, the natural way (tm) :).

[blam]

"BTW, Basra is where the Chinese set up all that digital communications links and anti/air command and control. We have been hitting it and looks like we hit it again."

Yup. Thirty five sorties is a lot to just take out a missle site, huh?

[sheik yerbouty]

Basra has long been the source of disputes.