Iraq: Iran launched 56 Scud missiles at military targets
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Thursday, April 19, 2001
NICOSIA — Tension has escalated after Baghdad accused Iran of
launching a barrage of Scud missiles toward military positions in Iraq.
Iraqi sources said Iran fired 56 Scud missiles on Wednesday. Several
Iraqis and a member of the Iranian opposition Mujahadeen Khalq were reported
killed.
The regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein warned Iran of retaliation.
"Iraq holds Iran fully responsible for human and material losses which were
caused by the aggression," an Iraqi government spokesman said. "Iraq
reserves its legitimate right to respond with suitable means at the suitable
time."
Iran did not acknowledge the attack. But Teheran has accused Baghdad of
supporting Mujahadeen attacks against the Islamic regime.
Iraqi and Mujahadeen sources said Iranian Scud missiles were fired
toward opposition camps in the southern Basra region as well as towns east
of Baghdad. The Doha-based Al Jazeera television showed the Scud missile
debris being carried by Mujahadeen members.
The Iranian attack came hours after Saudi Interior Minister Nayef Bin
Abdul Aziz met Iraqi opposition leaders in Teheran. The meeting with the
Teheran-based Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq focused on
Saudi support for the Iraqi opposition.
Earlier, Prince Nayef signed a security cooperation agreement with Iran.
The agreement would include efforts to increase border surveillance and
fight terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.
Before his departure from Teheran, the Saudi minister said Iran and
Saudi Arabia have concluded that Gulf security should be guaranteed by
states in the region. The United States and Britain have tens of thousands
of troops in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Thursday, April 19, 2001
|