US and British warplanes attack Iraqi targets

British and US warplanes attacked military targets in Iraq's southern no-fly zone today, the British ministry of defence said today.

Further Iraqi threats in the southern no-fly zone have necessitated another defensive action this morning by coalition patrols, a ministry statement said.

It said the attacks were not connected with the recent US terrorist attacks but reflected sustained threats to coalition humanitarian air patrols.

The attack was the latest raid by US and British jets since August 25th.

It comes in response to what is claimed are increasing attempts by the Iraqi military to shoot down planes that have been patrolling the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq for a decade.