The Black Vault - Western Jets Bombed Missile Sites in Baghdad

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Western aircraft attacked nine Iraqi missile launch sites in Baghdad on Wednesday but it was not known if any of the weapons struck a busy street and killed civilians, U.S. defense officials said.

The military's Central Command said in a statement that the aircraft targeted the surface-to-surface missile sites at approximately 11 a.m. in Baghdad.

"The missiles and launchers were placed within a civilian residential area," the command said. "Most of the missiles were positioned less than 300 feet from homes. A full assessment of the operation is ongoing."

At the Pentagon, defense officials, who asked not to be identified, said it was not known if any of the Western weapons caused two blasts that reports from Baghdad said killed at least 15 people and sparked fury among crowds of Iraqis.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2453847