Iraq 'fires at US plane'

Iraq fired a surface-to-air missile at an American U-2 spy plane over southern Iraq, US officials said. The US plane was not hit.

The crew of the US aircraft was flying yesterday as part of Operation Southern Watch, a joint US and British operation patrolling the no-fly zones over Iraq, Pentagon spokesman Lt David Gai said.

Operation Southern Watch is designed to protect Kurdish and Shiite groups against Government forces.

Iraq disputes the legitimacy of the no-fly zones and regularly contests US and British patrols by firing missiles and artillery guns.

According to reports, the pilot of the U-2 suddenly saw an anti-aircraft missile streaking toward him before exploding behind and below him - close enough to feel the shock wave from the explosion but not close enough to cause any damage to the plane.

The U-2 operates at an altitude of more than 70,000 feet, which is out of the range of most surface-to-air missiles.

US officials said the Iraqis have modified some of their missiles, adding extra fuel to extend their range.

Last month, a US Navy fighter jet attacked an anti-aircraft artillery site in southern Iraq in what US military officials called a response to attacks on US and British aircraft patrolling the zones.