IRAQ SAYS IT HIT SHIP IN GULF OFF IRAN TODAY Iraq said its warplanes had hit a vessel in the Gulf off the Iranian coast today, the third in the past 24 hours. A military spokesman told the Iraqi news agency INA the latest attack was at 1250 GMT. It earlier reported strikes at 0650 GMT and at 1930 GMT last night. The planes "dealt accurate and effective blows" to the targets and returned safely to base. There was no immediate confirmation of the attacks from Gulf shipping sources. The last confirmed Iraqi attack was on on March 8, when an Iranian tanker was hit by a missile south of Iran's Kharg island oil export terminal.