Antiaircraft Missiles Moved to North Iraq

Iraq has moved anti-aircraft missiles into the Western-patrolled Kurdish zone of northern Iraq in violation of U.N. orders, Prime Minister John Major’s office said Wednesday.

Sources in Washington said several allied aircraft were tracked by the missile batteries’ radar last week. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said no missiles were “locked on” the planes in preparation for firing but that the U.S. government is concerned about the situation.

“We take it very, very seriously,” said National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft.

Major met with Gen. Colin L. Powell, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, to discuss a possible response to the Iraqi move, but no decisions were announced.

Major’s office said Iraq has moved missile batteries and radar units north of the 36th Parallel in the last 10 days. The area has been patrolled by U.S., British and French aircraft since Saddam Hussein’s forces crushed a Kurdish uprising after the Gulf War.

The U.N. Security Council has ordered Iraq to cease all military operations in the area. Iraq is also forbidden to fly combat planes anywhere in the country under the cease-fire terms.