Iraqi targets in "no-fly" zone bombed
( 2003-03-01 09:31 ) (7 )

The Iraqi military said air raids on northern and southern Iraq by US-British planes injured three civilians and destroyed an airport radar station on Friday.

"The enemy attacked our civilian and infrastructure facilities in Ninawa province, injuring three citizens and damaging three cars," an army spokesman was quoted by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) as saying.

An Iraqi military spokesman also said US planes attacked the radar station of Basra airport in southern Iraq "in violation of international aviation safety rules."

The radar station has come under repeated attacks in the past.

There was no immediate comment on the reports from Washington or London.

Baghdad routinely describes the targets of the air raids as civilian, while US and British military authorities say they attack only military targets and strive to avoid inflicting civilian casualties.

Ninawa falls under the northern "no-fly" zone, patrolled by US and British planes since the 1991 Gulf War. There is another zone in the south.

US and British jets have increased the frequency of attacks on Iraqi air defence missiles, radar and communications in the no-fly zones as the two countries build up forces in the Gulf in preparation for a possible attack on Iraq.