WASHINGTON. May 4: US jets attacked Iraqi air defence sites near the city of Mosul on Monday after being targeted by radar and fired upon by at least two surface-to-air missiles, officials said, reports AP.

In a statement from the air base in Incirlik. Turkey, which is headquarters for the US and British planes enforcing a no-fly zone over northern Iraq, officials said Air Force F-15E and F-16CJ Jets fired anti-radiation missiles and precision-guided AGM-130 missiles at several surface-to-air missiles sites. Also. F-16s dropped GBU-12 laser-guided bombs on one of the Iraqi missile sites.

No details were provided on the result of the attacks.

The state-run Iraqi News Agency reported that two civilians were killed and 12 injured when "the evil aggressors attacked one of our civilian sites" north of Mosul, which is about 250 miles (400 kilometers) north of Baghdad.

The US statement from Incirlik said one of the surface-to-air missile sites was located in a “civilian town." In a departure from usual practice in describing US air attacks on Iraqi air defense sites, the statement

said the US planes "did not target this site with bombs due to the potential of civilian casualties."

US planes fired missiles at that site. Incirlik spokesman Capt. Manning Brown said. He said he could not discuss what kind of missile was used or identify the "civilian town." The implication was that missiles are less likely than bombs to cause civilian damage.

Later. Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said the object targeted by US jets in the civilian area was a radar. He said US planes attacked the radar with HARM, or high-speed anti-radiation missile, weapon.

"I don't think we know at this stage what it hit, but the attack was called off after (the pilots) saw that the radar was in a civilian area." Bacon said.

In saying no bombs were used against the surface-to-air missile site. Manning said. US officials wanted to emphasize that precautions are taken to avoid civilian casualties. This comes in response to assertions by Iraqi authorities last week that US attacks in northern and southern Iraq had killed civilians.

"Casualties can only be ruled

out if Saddam Hussein ceases to target and attack" the US and British planes enforcing the no-fly zones, the Incirlik statement said.

"The Iraqi placement of anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missile systems in civilian populated areas increases the probability of civilian casualties." it added.

The incidents occurred between 11 am and 2 pm local time (between 0800 GMT and 1100 GMT).

Bacon said it was difficult to explain why Saddam has periodically challenged US and British enforcement of the no fly zones.

"The reason could be that he's constantly looking for ways to shoot down a US plane and therefore recalibrating his air defense and other systems better to enable him to do that." Bacon said;

He said Saddam appears to be using different tactics.

"One of his tactics now may be to place his air defense systems in civilian neighborhoods, thinking he can challenge us with impunity, because he's done that," the spokesman said. "It's not only a risky strategy for him, but for his civilians."