Iraq: July 31, 1999

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Iraqi media announced that dozens of Coalition aircraft have been driven out of the southern no-fly zone by Iraqi anti-aircraft guns and missiles. No comment from U.S. or British air forces. Iraq has also been announcing a dozen or more dead and wounded Iraqis resulting from each Coalition attack. There is never any way to confirm these losses, but this kind of reporting plays well within Iraq. Saddam may be losing anti-aircraft capability, but he is gaining stature within Iraq and the Arab world in general.