HC Deb 07 February 2000 vol 344 c31W
Mr. Alan Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 January 2000,Official Report, column 165W, on Iraq, how many British aircraft came under fire before dropping their laser-guided bombs. [108433]

Mr. Hoon

On the morning of 28 November 1999, coalition aircraft patrolling the southern no fly zone came under fire from Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery. During a further patrol later that day, coalition aircraft were again fired at by Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery. Coalition aircraft responded in self-defence by attacking one fire control radar and two batteries of anti-aircraft artillery. I am withholding information on the number of aircraft involved in specific incidents under Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.