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 TIMELINE | WHERE THEY STAND | INSIDE UNSCOM | MAPS FORCES IN THE GULF | VIDEO | BIOWEAPONS EXPLAINER |
U.S.-Iraqi tensions escalate as jets clash over Iraq
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Two F-15s like the one above and two F-14s engaged Iraqi MiG-25s Tuesday |
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| ALSO: | |||||||||
| U.N. rejects Iraqi moves to evict U.S., British staff | |||||||||
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RELATED VIDEOWeb posted at: 11:19 p.m. EST (0419 GMT)
In this story:
- First air-to-air incident in six years
- U.S. vows strict enforcement of no-fly zones
- Hussein calls for Jihad
- Related stories and sites
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Tensions between Iraq and the United States escalated to a new level Tuesday as a number of Iraqi warplanes challenged U.S. superiority in the no-fly zone over the southern half of the country.
U.S. warplanes fired six missiles at Iraqi jets in two separate clashes just minutes apart, but none of the missiles hit their targets. However, one of the Iraqi planes may have crashed after running out of fuel, U.S. officials said.
The incident came as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, speaking in a televised address, called on Arabs "to raise the sword of Jihad" against any of their leaders who cooperate with the United States.
The first confrontation occurred at about 10:15 a.m. (2:15 a.m. EST) southwest of Baghdad and involved two U.S. Air Force F-15s based in Saudi Arabia and two Iraqi MiG-25 fighters.
The Iraqis turned their radar on the American aircraft, prompting the firing of one Sparrow and three AIM-120 missiles at the MiGs.
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| According to the Pentagon 13 to 15 Iraqi planes, such as the ones pictured above, violated the southern no-fly zone | |
Minutes later, two U.S. Navy F-14s from the USS Vinson confronted two more Iraqi MiG-25s southeast of Baghdad. The U.S. planes fired two AIM-54 missiles at the Iraqi fighters after they "dipped" into the no-fly zone, said Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon.
"The Iraqi planes when they saw they were engaged and being fired upon by the U.S. planes turned and beat a hasty retreat out of the no-fly zone," Bacon said.
In all, Bacon said, a group of about 13 to 15 Iraqi MiG and F-1 Mirage fighter jets violated the southern no-fly zone.
One Pentagon source told CNN that the Iraqi aircraft flew at various altitudes in an apparent attempt to lure U.S. planes into a vulnerable position.
There was no indication that any of the Iraqi aircraft were shot down, although it appeared that one of the Iraqi planes may have run out of fuel and crashed. Bacon said that all American aircraft returned safely.
Iraq also claims all its airplanes returned safely.
First air-to-air incident in six years
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| Iraq has repeatedly threatened to shoot at aircraft it says violate Iraqi airspace | |
The official Iraqi News Agency quoted a military spokesman who confirmed Iraqi jets clashed with coalition planes.
"The brave hawks of our air force confronted them and engaged the U.S. and British aircraft," the spokesman said. "The aggressive aircraft withdrew to the same direction it came from."
Iraq considers the restrictions illegal and has repeatedly threatened to shoot at aircraft which it says violate Iraqi airspace.
The incident was the third clash between Iraq and U.S. and British forces in eight days. American jets bombed Iraqi missile batteries in northern and southern Iraq after missiles were fired at British jets patrolling the no-fly zone.
It was also the first air-to-air confrontation since December 27, 1992, when a U.S. F-16 downed an Iraq MiG-25 after it violated the no-fly zone.
U.S. vows strict enforcement of no-fly zones
The latest clash seems to have strengthened U.S. resolve to enforce the no-fly zones in order to protect Kurds in the north and Shiite Muslims in the south from Hussein.
It may even lead to another U.S.-led bombing campaign on Iraq. At a hearing of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Hugh Shelton was asked why U.S. forces were being used to destroy Iraqi missile sites.
"We have looked at numerous options and have various plans that are available right now. If the president were to see fit to take that type of action, we in fact have these kinds of plans on the shelf," Shelton said.
Many in Washington say Hussein "is desperate and frustrated" in the wake of last month's four-day bombing of Iraq that may have taken him by surprise.
"We know that he (Saddam) is frustrated, and we know he's isolated," White House spokesman Joe Lockhart told reporters. "He's very angry that he hasn't received the support he believes he deserves from his neighbors."
Hussein calls for Jihad
Hussein on Tuesday urged Arabs to back Iraq and rise up against Arab leaders cooperating with the United States and Britain.
"Revolt, sons of the great Arab nation, against injustice and let your voices be heard," Hussein said in a speech broadcast by Qatar's Al-Jazeera Television.
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| Hussein has called for a Jihad following last month's four-day bombardment of Iraq | |
"It is time to avenge your dignity," he admonished. "We have no other choice but to raise the swords of Jihad over their necks ... to defend our rights, and the rights of the Arabs and Muslims."
His statement was an apparent appeal to the Arab masses, especially in countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, whom Baghdad has accused of failing to support Iraq's efforts to end sanctions imposed after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Hussein's speech underscored his increasingly precarious position.
"Some of the actions of Saddam today and his rhetoric calling on people in Arab countries to overthrow the governments that do not support him really show Saddam's increasing isolation and desperation," she said.
Correspondent Jamie McIntyre, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.