U.S. jets encounter Iraqi fighters over southern no-fly zone

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. fighter jets and Iraqi MiG fighters tangled Saturday in the no-fly zone over southern Iraq, U.S. administration officials told CNN.

U.S. aircraft also were targeted by ground-based anti-aircraft fire and responded by dropping laser-guided bombs on those sites, the officials said.

The U.S. Central Command, the military command with jurisdiction over the southern no-fly zone, reported that four U.S. planes operating off the USS Carl Vinson -- two F- 14 Tomcats and two FA-18 Hornets -- were on a routine patrol over the southern no-fly zone when they encountered two Iraqi planes

The U.S. planes responded to what the Central Command called a threat "initiated" by the two MiG 21s, which were reportedly flying south of the 33rd parallel in violation of the no-fly zone.

The Central Command also said the U.S. planes came under fire from anti-aircraft artillery.

The administration officials and the Central Command said all coalition aircraft returned safely and did not report any damage. However, the military statement said a routine battle-damage assessment was under way.

The northern and southern no-fly zones were imposed after the 1991 Gulf War to protect Kurds and Shiite Muslims who rebelled against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Hussein maintains that the barring of Iraqi flights in those areas is an illegal intrusion on the country's sovereignty.

White House Correspondent John King contributed to this report.