U.S. Strikes Iraq

While the United States suggested a possibility to expand war against other countries than Afghanistan, the U.S. combat planes stroke the Aviation Command and Control Center in southern Iraq on Nov. 27.

The attack came a day after the U.S. President George W. Bush urged Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to allow U.N. weapons inspectors into his country, and warned that Iraq could become the next target of attacks if the Iraq did not accept it.

The U.S. military`s Central Command stated, "The U.S. and British aircraft patrolling a no-fly zone in southern Iraq conducted an attack on a target as a way of self-defense in response to the operation of Iraqi air defense system." The strike was on a target at the Iraqi Aviation Command and Control Center in an-Nasiriah, located about 275 km southeast of Baghdad.

Iraq argued, "One person was injured and several buildings were destroyed by the U.S. attack."

It was the first attack conducted by the U.S. aircraft in the no-fly zone of southern Iraq since Oct. 23.

Prior to this, an Iraqi government spokesman rejected Nov. 27 President Bush`s demand for Iraq to allow U.N. weapons inspectors to return, saying "We will not surrender to such a threat." But Iraq`s U.N. Ambassador Mohammed al-Douri said, "We expect the United States to choose a peaceful solution and a normal relation between the two countries."

Jong-Dae Ha orionha@donga.com