ACCESSION NUMBER:291851

FILE ID:POL205

DATE:06/29/93

TITLE:DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, TUESDAY, JUNE 29 (06/29/93)

TEXT:*93062905.POL

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, TUESDAY, JUNE 29



(Iraq, Guam exercise)  (340)

NEWS BRIEFING -- Navy Captain Michael Doubleday, the spokesman, discussed

the following topics:



U.S. PLANE FIRES ON IRAQI RADAR SITE

A U.S. fighter plane fired a missile at an Iraqi radar anti-aircraft site

near Basra in the southern no-fly zone June 29, Doubleday announced.



The radar facility locked on to one of two U.S. fighters patrolling the area

to enforce Operation Deny Flight, established as a result of the U.N.

Security Council resolution ordering Iraqi military aircraft to remain

north of the 32nd parallel.  The resolution includes prohibitions against

locking military radar onto aircraft of the coalition forces.



"The aircraft fixed on the radar and fired" in response at about 1500 GMT,

Doubleday said, adding that both fighters returned to base undamaged and no

assessment has been made of damage to the radar site.



It was the first violation of the no-fly order since U.S. missiles struck at

the headquarters of the Iraqi intelligence service June 26 after evidence

proved Baghdad˙20plotted to assassinate former President Bush.



Doubleday told reporters that the Iraqi military had been in a higher state

of alert following the strike and now "they are beginning to return to a

more normal status."



A U.S. naval task force led by the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt

passed through the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea June

29.  The carrier is participating in Operation Deny Flight and can launch

its aircraft within range of Iraq from either north or south of the canal,

the spokesman said.



MILITARY TO CONDUCT GUAM EXERCISE

Units from all four armed services will conduct a joint exercise --

Tandem Thrust 1993 -- in Guam and surrounding waters July 10-25, the

spokesman announced.



The exercise will test the readiness of 5,000 personnel participating from

military units of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps stationed

around the Pacific rim, he said.



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