News In Brief

Iraq denies warplane lost in raid on Iran

Iran said its forces shot down an Iraqi warplane trying to bomb the northwestern town of Marivan Tuesday in the latest round of fighting in the strategic Gulf region. Both Iran and Iraq reported artillery exchanges along the northern war front, but Iraq denied that it lost a plane.

In Turkey, the newspaper Gunes reported that Iraq had taken delivery of the five controversial French Super Etendard fighter bombers. Iran has threatened to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz if the planes are used to disrupt Iranian oil exports. Iraq is also reportedly trying to rebuild its oil terminal at Fao on the Gulf in hopes of resuming crude exports through the strait.