Iraq: April 30, 2001

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American warplanes hit air defense targets in northern Iraq, after being fired on. In the last year, Iraqi air defense guns and missiles have fired on coalition over 500 times. In response, the guns and launchers have been attacked 38 times. Most Iraqi anti-aircraft weapons and equipment are set up in populated areas. This discourages Coalition air attacks, and if attacked, there will often be civilian casualties that have considerable propaganda value.