Iraq retaliates, firing missiles toward US troops
( 2003-03-20 19:13 ) (7 )

UA Army soldiers from the A Company 3rd Battalion 7th Infantry Regiment go to full gas alert, or 'MOPP 4', in the Kuwaiti desert near the border with Iraq, as Iraqi missiles were fired into Kuwait Thursday, March 20, 2003. Three missiles were fired by Iraq, according to a British army spokesman, including one Scud that was intercepted by a Patriot missile. [AP]

Iraq fired missiles across the Kuwaiti border toward US troops Thursday, prompting soldiers to don gas masks and chemical protective gear. At least one of the rockets was intercepted by a Patriot missile, US officials said.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage, and soldiers were given the all-clear.

At Camp New Jersey - one of at least two encampments in the Kuwaiti desert where soldiers put on their protective gear because of missile attacks - officers said the missile appeared to be an Al Samoud 2, which is smaller than a Scud.

Col. Michael Linnington of the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division said the missile did not appear to have a chemical warhead.

"Our information was an Al-Samoud missile was launched against US forces assembling in forward attack positions," Linnington said.

Earlier, in what appeared to be a separate attack, Kuwaiti Defense Minister Sheik Jaber Mubarak Al Sabah told The Kuwait News Agency two Iraqi missiles fell on the border with Iraq. There were no casualties or damage, another official told KUNA.

(AP)