U.S. Offers $500 to Iraqis Who Turn in Antiaircraft Missiles

U.S. authorities are offering $500 rewards to Iraqis who turn in shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles, a military spokesman said Wednesday.

Army Lt. Col. George Krivo said 320 antiaircraft missiles had been turned in so far.

“The number does not include the many hundreds that we have found and destroyed,” Krivo said.

He said the military was offering $500 per system, including the grip stock and the missile, and $250 for the separate parts.

U.S. officials are uncertain as to how many shoulder-fired antiaircraft weapons were in Iraq’s inventory when the war began March 20, but some estimates put the figure at about 1,500.

The presence of large numbers of the weapons has raised concern about the security of flights in and out of Baghdad’s international airport. Shoulder-fired missiles have been launched at U.S. military aircraft at the airport three times, but no planes have been hit.