MoD Information

US Warning For Human Shields

Wed, February 26, 2003

Source: Ananova

The US military has stated it can not guarantee the safety of civilians who deliberately position themselves as human shields against attack on Iraqi targets

The US military has stated it can not guarantee the safety of civilians who deliberately position themselves as human shields against attack on Iraqi targets. General Tommy Franks says US and British warplanes patrolling no fly zones over Iraq are increasingly taking aim at Iraqi forces armed with surface-to-surface missiles within range of Kuwait and Turkey.

Fighter-bombers that have periodically struck Iraqi air defences in the no-fly zones for more than a decade have recently begun striking at Iraqi Ababil missiles, which have a range of about 95 miles.

Gen Franks, the commander of US Central Command, said: "We'll do our best to avoid non-combatant casualties and, I will tell you, we will not be 100% successful.

"When the Iraqis enhance their position with unauthorised weapon systems, it triggers a response from us. So over the last couple of days we have had a couple of responses."

He was referring to US airstrikes against three surface-to-surface missile systems in northern Iraq on Tuesday, and earlier air attacks against Ababil missiles in the south. Iraqi multiple-launch rocket systems also have been attacked in the south in recent days.

Gen Franks expressed concern at reports that people opposed to a US-led war against Iraq have accepted invitations from Baghdad to place themselves near power plants and other facilities as human shields.

He criticised the Iraqi regime for putting civilians in harm's way, saying: "In the first case, it's a violation of international law.

"Anytime there is encouragement by a regime to cover targets with humans, non-combatant humans, my gracious, that's a violation of every sort of conduct that I think people in the free world can identify with."

Gen Franks said US air patrols are keeping a closer eye on movements of Iraqi surface-to-surface missiles because of the threat they pose to tens of thousands of US and allied forces gathering in Kuwait.