THE US launched a second cruise missile strike on military targets in southern Iraq, early this morning (2.45 a.m. Irish time). White House sources said the aim was to complete the destruction of anti-aircraft defence installation, which had been hit in the first strike yesterday.
The strike involved 17 cruise missiles launched from four ships in the Persian Gulf and a submarine.
There had been some criticism of President Clinton for being too timid in the first strike by 27 cruise missiles against air defence installations south of Baghdad, amid fears that it would not be effective enough.
There is disappointment here at the lack of international support for the US action compared with the Gulf War in 1992. The US Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher, will be visiting European capitals later this week to explain the action and to try to persuade foreign governments, especially the French, to support the US.
President Clinton yesterday defended the action as making President Saddam Hussein pay for his attacks on Kurdish areas. But he warned that the "no-fly zone" in southern Iraq was being extended to Baghdad suburbs to restrict Iraq's ability to conduct offensive operations.
A defiant President Saddam appeared on TV soon after the first attack to announce that he would no longer respect the no-fly zones. He ordered his forces to, shoot down any foreign aircraft that penetrated Iraqi airspace.
The Pentagon made it clear that there would be an immediate escalation of the situation if US planes were shot down. The air strikes have strengthened President Clinton's position at home where his Republican opponent, Mr Bob Dole, has been forced to suspend his criticisms of "weak leadership" in foreign policy.
Only Britain among EU countries seemed prepared to give Mr Clinton unstinting support for the missile attacks. There was more restrained support from Germany and Japan. But Washington has been irritated by the outspoken criticism of the French.
Mr Clinton said rather unconvincingly at a press conference that he was "satisfied" with the response of his "allies" when he consulted them. The French Foreign Ministry expressed "concern" and the Foreign Minister, Mr Herve de Charette, reaffirmed "attachment to the territorial integrity" of Iraq. It is not clear whether France will allow its aircraft to continue monitoring the expanded no-fly zone. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the bombing, which it said could send events in the region "spiralling out of control". China deplored the attack and called for restraint.
Jordan, which supported Iraq in the Gulf War, rejected any attempt aimed at "undermining the sovereignty of Iraq and the unity of its territories and people" but stopped short of condemning the missile attacks. Egypt said it was "really disturbed and concerned" about the situation.
A statement from 10 Downing Street said: "The British government fully support this unequivocal message to Saddam Hussein, that repression of innocent civilians and reckless acts of brutality are unacceptable." The German, Foreign Minister, Mr Klaus, Kinkel, described the US attack as "appropriate and justified". Turkey was silent.