US warplanes attack Iraqi missile site

WASHINGTON, Dec 28 (PTI) — In a new flare-up in the Gulf, US warplanes today pounded an Iraqi anti-aircraft missile, position killing four soldiers and wounding seven, with President Bill Clinton asserting that Washington would "continue to enforce no-fly zones" but Russia condemning the American action.

The development came even as Arab parliamentarians in Jordanian capital, Amman, asked the UN Security Council to punish Washington and London for their recent air strikes on Baghdad and advocated end to economic sanctions against the Arab nation.

The US F-16 fighters attacked the Iraqi military position after coming under fire in northern Iraq in the most serious clash since the end of ‘Operation Desert Fox’ earlier this month.

"We can confirm today there that was an aggressive Iraqi action against US fighter aircraft in support of "Operation Northern Watch." Our aircraft responded within normal rules of engagement," said a US Defence Department spokesman.

The Western allies enforce "no-fly" zones in North and South of Iraq, covering more than half of the country’s territory, under the UN Security Council resolution 688 condemning Iraqi repression of Shias and Kurds.

An Iraqi military communique released by official news agency, INA, said four Iraqi soldiers were killed and seven wounded when "enemy" planes fired missiles at an Iraqi anti-aircraft position.