US jet and helicopter shot down in Iraq

A US FA-18 Hornet warplane and a Black Hawk helicopter were shot down over southern Iraq, it was reported today.

The Hornet was downed by a surface-to-air missile, American TV networks said, and the Pentagon announced that the Black Hawk was hit by small arms fire.

The fate of the pilot from the aircraft carrier-based plane was not known, but up to seven soldiers in the helicopter died.

The Black Hawk was downed near Karbala, the site of fierce street-to-street skirmishes between the US 3rd Infantry Division and Iraqi troops, including the Republican Guard Medina division – the strength of which has been reduced by half.

There was some confusion over the number on board. Pentagon officials said there were 11 on board, seven of which were killed and four were injured and rescued.

But an initial report from Central Command in Qatar said there were only six soldiers on board. It said the helicopter crashed in central Iraq at approximately 7.30pm yesterday and was on an operational mission.

It said: “Casualties have not been confirmed at this point. The cause of the crash is being investigated.”

Meanwhile, Iraq’s Republican Guard were moving south of Baghdad today in an attempt to cut off the coalition forces’ advance on the capital.

US spy planes spotted units of the elite regiments protecting Baghdad travelling southwards while it was dark, according to US military sources quoted by Sky News.

It is thought the Republican Guard were also hoping to reinforce positions around the capital’s airport.

US forces about 19 miles outside Baghdad were reportedly firing rockets north at the Iraqi positions.