U.S. jet fires missile at Iraqi plane

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Defense Department said Tuesday that a U.S. Navy jet fired at least one air-to-air missile at an Iraqi aircraft that had apparently violated the southern no-fly zone over Iraq.

A Pentagon spokesman told CNN that he could confirm only that there was a violation.

Pentagon sources said planes from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson were involved in the confrontation.

All U.S. planes returned safely to the ship in the Persian Gulf.

There was no initial word on whether the Iraqi plane was hit.