(The Scotsman-UK) U.S. strike aircraft and special forces are now poised to open a western front against Iraq, after setting up a string of covert bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the eastern Mediterranean. Several thousand troops have been moving into bases in northern Saudi Arabia over the past week. The U.S. set up three batteries of Patriot missiles in Azraq AB in eastern Jordan last month to improve Israel's defenses against Iraqi Scuds. Special force helicopters are also at the base to fly commandos into western Iraq. This week, U.S. aircraft launched two air raids on mobile Iraqi surface-to-air missile batteries defending the huge H-3 airbase in western Iraq.
2003-03-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive