ACCESSION NUMBER:242397
FILE ID:POL402
DATE:09/10/92
TITLE:DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 (09/10/92)
TEXT:*92091002.POL
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

(Iraq, Croatia, Somalia, Canada/Andrew)  (520)
NEWS BRIEFING -- Spokesman Pete Williams discussed the following topics:
IRAQI AIRCRAFT STRAYS IN NORTHERN NO-FLY ZONE
Williams said an F-1 Mirage jet aircraft, identified by U.S. pilots as
Iraqi, strayed north of the 36th parallel September 10 into the no-fly zone
associated with Operation Provide Comfort.
1
He said U.S. early warning radar aircraft tracked the aircraft and two U.S.
F-16s were sent to investigate.

Williams said the F-1 showed no indication of "hostile intent" and "headed
south again" with the approach of the U.S. aircraft.  He said the F-1 did
not direct its radar at the U.S. planes.

The spokesman also noted that it is not unprecedented for Iraqi aircraft to
fly into the no-fly zone in northern Iraq.  Iraqi jets "sporadically" stray
across the line, he said, but have, generally, "obeyed the no-fly zone
above 36 degrees north latitude."

Asked about Operation Southern Watch, Williams noted there have been no
confirmed contacts with Iraqi aircraft or radar south of the 32nd parallel,
where U.S. planes have flown 17,500 sorties.  He acknowledged that the
number of these flights has declined in recent days.

U.S. IS MONITORING FLIGHTS INTO THE BALKANS
Williams said the United States is monitoring the flights of "various
nations" thought to be delivering arms shipments to the Balkans.

Asked about a reported Iranian shipment of 4,000 guns and ammunition
intercepted in Croatia, Williams said the United States would consider such
a shipment "a further contribution to the violence in the area."

The spokesman said U.S. officials have been in touch with the Croatians
about the shipment which arrived in Zagreb September 4.  He was unable to
discuss "what specific intelligence we may have passed to the United
Nations" regarding U.S. intelligence reports on such arms shipments.

U.S. AIRLIFTS TO KENYA AND SOMALIA CONTINUE
Williams said the United States is considering flying in food to
additional sites in famine-stricken Somalia.

The flights are limited now by the small number of Somalia air strips
capable of handling large C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and by an
inadequate distribution network for the supplies, he added.  Flights now go
to Belet Weyne and Baidoa.

Williams said the United States is ready to fly a contingent of 500
Pakistanis into Mogadishu, Somalia, to help protect the supplies, as soon
as they are ready and the United Nations says it is safe enough to fly them
in.

The spokesman said the U.S. Air Force has flown 172 humanitarian food
missions into North Kenya and Somalia totaling 2,396 metric tons since
Operation Provide Relief began last month.

CANADIAN CONTINGENT TO AID HURRICANE VICTIMS
Williams said a contingent of 90 Canadian military construction engineers
will arrive in Florida September 12-13 to help in repair efforts in the
wake of Hurricane Andrew.

He said 300 Canadian sailors will assist the Canadian military construction
and civilian power restoration experts.

NNNN

.