Fighter jets cover US ground forces in northern Iraq

ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (AFP) Apr 01, 2003
Fighters from the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt bombarded sites in northern Iraq early Tuesday to provide support for special coalition forces on the ground, a spokesman aboard the vessel said.

Artillery installations, bunkers and Iraqi troop formations were the targets in six raids carried out by around 50 warplanes from the carrier in the eastern Mediterranean, US Navy public relations officer John Oliveira said.

The strikes came as part of a support operation for special ground forces and soldiers of the 173rd Brigade, who were parachuted into the area last week to help set up a northern front in Iraq alongside Kurdish militia.

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