US flying 24-hour patrols over Baghdad to support ground troops: general

WASHINGTON (AFP) Apr 05, 2003
US combat aircraft began flying round-the-clock patrols over Baghdad Saturday to provide close air support for US ground forces probing the Iraqi capital, the commander of the US-led air campaign said.

"Today is the day we implemented our conops (concept of operations) because we have our land forces in the city," said Lieutenant General T. Michael Moseley.

The plan put in operation is to "provide airborne forward air controllers over the city 24 hours a day and multiple sets of fighters with multiple munitions options stacked up 24 hours a day to be able to respond to the land component requirements inside the city if we have to," he said.

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