Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

A pilot of the U.S. Air force jet lies at the scene of a plane crash northwest of Baghdad, Nov. 27, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Two Iraqi militant groups claimed to have shot down a U.S. F-16 plane northwest of Baghdad on Monday, Al Jazeera television said on Tuesday.

    The television said it was quoting a joint statement from the Mujahideen Army and the Mujahideen Shura Council, in which they claimed the attack.

    The Pentagon had no immediate comment on the claim, which Al Jazeera said came in a statement posted on the Internet.

    The U.S. military confirmed the incident in a brief statement, saying the U.S. Air force jet, F-16 carrying one pilot crashed in northwest of Baghdad at about 1:35 p.m. (1035 GMT).

    The F-16 CG was providing support for the coalition ground forces when it went down in an area located 32 km northwest of Baghdad in the volatile Anbar province, added the statement.

    However, the statement did not say what caused the crash or the fate of the pilot.

(Agencies)

A resident from the village of Al Jasan steps on the wing of a U.S. F-16 fighter that crashed on a combat mission, about 15 km (9 miles) north of Falluja November 27, 2006.(Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

U.S. warplane crashes in northwest of Baghdad

    BAGHDAD, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. fighter jet crashed northwest of Baghdad on Monday with one pilot on board, al-Jazeera TV channel reported.

    The U.S. military confirmed the incident in a brief statement,saying the U.S. Air force jet, F-16 carrying one pilot crashed in northwest of Baghdad at about 1:35 p.m. (1035 GMT).

    The F-16 CG was providing support for the coalition ground forces when it went down in an area located 32 km northwest of Baghdad in the volatile Anbar province, added the statement.  

    However, the statement did not say what caused the crash or the fate of the pilot.

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