RELATED DISCUSSION Strikes on Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. jet patrolling the northern "no-fly" zone in Iraq bombed an Iraqi anti-aircraft site Friday after being fired at from that site, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokesman Brian Whitman said allied aircraft were flying routine patrols over northern Iraq when they were "provoked by anti-aircraft artillery." An Air Force F-15E dropped a laser-guided, 500-pound bomb on the site, located north of the Iraqi city of Mosul.

The incident occurred at 1:30 p.m. Iraq time (1030 GMT). The U.S. plane returned safely to its base at Incirlik, Turkey, the U.S. European Command in Germany said.

"Damage to Iraqi forces is currently under assessment," added a statement from the European Command, which oversees the northern "no-fly" zone.

Early reports indicated there were two separate attacks, but those reports were revised later Friday.

The Iraqi News Agency condemned the U.S. attack as "reckless," reporting that one civilian was killed and another wounded in the attack.

Attacks on air defense sites have become a routine event as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein continues to challenge the northern and southern "no-fly" zones, which were imposed after the 1991 Persian Gulf war.

Iraq has challenged Western patrols almost daily since the end of Operation Desert Fox in December, when U.S. and British forces pounded Iraq in a four-day bombing campaign after Iraq's cooperation with U.N. weapons inspectors broke down.

Friday's clash was the 51st since December 28 and marks the 19th day that U.S. or British forces have attacked targets in Iraq air defenses since the end of Operation Desert Fox.

The Pentagon said there were also several violations of the southern "no-fly" zone by Iraqi aircraft Friday, but no attacks there by coalition planes.

Iraq said two civilians were killed and several others were wounded in Thursday's attacks, when U.S. fighter jets pummeled Iraq's targets in seven separate attacks. The Pentagon said it had no confirmation of casualties.

Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.