Newspaper Article

WAR IN THE GULF: IRAQI AIR FORCE; Harboring of Iraqi Planes by Iran Calls Its Neutrality Into Question

MICHAEL R. GORDON, Special to The New York Times

1991

Overview

The decision to give refuge to Iraqi planes may be an extension of Teheran's effort to play both sides of the gulf conflict, Administration officials and experts on Iran said. The Government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Iran's actions were consistent with its practice of publicly criticizing Iraq's military aggression but apparently assisting Mr. [Saddam Hussein] at the margins of the crisis. 'Flower of the Air Force' The Pentagon first confirmed the flight of Iraqi planes into Iran on Saturday, and the number of fleeing planes has risen fast in recent days. General Kelly described the fleeing Iraqi planes today as the \"flower of the air force.\" Eighty planes would represent about 10 percent of the Iraqi Air Force, Western officials believe. Iranian support to Iraq would be a serious setback to American and allied efforts to keep Iraq isolated during the war. Secretary of State James A. Baker 3d has asserted that Washington has received assurances from Teheran that Iran will remain neutral in the conflict and that the Iraqi planes will not be permitted to leave. Pentagon officials said there was as yet no evidence that Iraqi planes that have flown to Iran have returned to Iraq. Pentagon's Mixed Feelings

• Publisher: New York Times Company
• Subject: AIR FORCES / ARMAMENT, DEFENSE AND MILITARY FORCES / ARNETT, PETER / GORDON, MICHAEL R / Hussein, Saddam / HUSSEIN, SADDAM (PRES) / INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS / KELLY, THOMAS (LT GEN) / MILITARY STRATEGY AND TACTICS / PERSIAN GULF WAR