KUWAIT: TORNADO JETS ANNOUNCE ANOTHER ATTACK ON BAGHDAD

(19 Dec 1998) English/Nat Sound

British Tornado jets have mounted another attack on Baghdad tonight.

Four aircraft, armed with laser guided bombs were seen leaving their desert airbase, as United States Marines began digging in on Iraq's Southern Border.

They were doing so in preparation for any possible Iraqi air attacks.

The four R-A-F Tornado G-R-1 fighter bombers, each with two crew on board, carried a full load of bombs as they roared into the night time sky from their desert airbase.

This latest raid follows claims from Britain and the United States that previous air-strikes have done serious damage to Iraq's air defence and command and control systems.

But even so, Marines from the Thirty-First Expeditionary Unit on Iraq's southern border are still preparing for the possibility of Iraqi air strikes.

And they are also mindful of the looming impeachment trial of U-S President Bill Clinton.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well it kinda looks pretty bad, with the President you know, and it makes the people of the United States look pretty bad."
SUPER CAPTION: Lance Corporal Marvin Enbiro, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

There are also tanks dug in here, along with a force of a thousand troops.

They say they are on a high state of alert, that they have established defensive positions and are ready for any attack.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Right now we're just defending this ridgeline, from possible invasion, whatever other missions may come down."
SUPER CAPTION: Lt Derek Mandelerz, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

The Marines are also equipped with five Patriot anti-missile batteries that are designed to shoot down any incoming Scud missiles that may be launched by Iraq.

They say that additional Patriot Batteries can be deployed to various locations in the region if necessary, and at short notice.

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