An F/A 18 Hornet fighter based on an aircraft carrier was shot down

AS-SALIYAH, Qatar, April 3 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - An F/A 18 Hornet fighter based on an aircraft carrier was shot down while taking part in a mission over Iraq, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Thursday, April 3.

"A U.S. Navy F/A-18C, a single-seat aircraft off of the USS Kitty Hawk, went down at approximately 3:45 p.m. EST today (2045 GMT Wednesday) during ongoing coalition air operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom," said the statement released at Centcom's forward operating base in Qatar, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"While the coalition does not discuss the details of ongoing recovery operations, it is committed to fully accounting for all coalition personnel. An investigation is ongoing.

"The name of the pilot is being withheld pending notification of next of kin," the statement added.

A U.S. Army Black hawk helicopter was also shot down in Iraq Wednesday, April 2, but there were conflicting reports between the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command on the number aboard and the number dead.

A Defense Department official said that "preliminary reports say seven were killed" but Centcom would only say that six were people were aboard the troop transporter, adding that "casualties have not been confirmed at this point".

“Breakthroughs”

Meanwhile, a U.S. military spokesman said American forces made breakthroughs in two key areas of the southern approach to Baghdad, effectively destroying two of the Republican Guard divisions defending the city.

Iraq, however, flatly denied the destruction of the Republican Guard Divisions. Iraq has denounced the American claims of victories and advances as "lies".

"The dagger is clearly pointed at the heart of the regime and will remain pointed at it until the regime is gone," said Brigadier-General Vince Brooks at U.S. Central Command in Qatar.

U.S. commanders believe they have beaten the Medina division of Iraq’s elite troops, although there are concerns that some of the soldiers may have withdrawn to continue the fight nearer Baghdad.

U.S. commanders are anxious to avoid having to fight in Baghdad's streets, where civilian casualties could be high and where Iraqi soldiers would have the advantage of local knowledge.

'Matter of hours'

Iraqi units have been attacked from the air ahead of the arrival of ground troops.

Raids by B-52 bombers on tanks defending Baghdad included the first ever use six new precision-guided "cluster" bombs, the U.S. military said.

The 1,000-pound (454 kg) CBU-105 bombs each contain 10 armor-destroying bomb lets.

BBC defense correspondent Paul Adams, at U.S. Central Command in Qatar, says the American-led forces could be "a matter of hours" from entering the Iraqi capital.

However, correspondents in Baghdad say residents continue to go about their daily business and the atmosphere in the center is not one of a militarized city.

Iraqi Regime Defiant

A Black hawk helicopter was also shut down

On the other hand, the Iraqi regime voiced undying defiance Thursday as the aerial blitz on Baghdad pounded on.

A fresh heavy bombing raid directed at the outskirts of Baghdad boomed out in the early morning, an AFP journalist reported.

More explosions were heard across the city coming from the southern and southeastern fringes of the capital where elite Iraqi divisions are said to be dug in.

As the United States said its forces were within 50 kilometers (30 miles) of the capital, state television broadcast a series of statements by President Saddam Hussein.

He stressed barely a third of his forces had been engaged in battle and warned Kurds advancing in the north not to betray him, threatening future reprisals.

The U.S.-led invasion forces had launched at least two attacks on the Republican Palace, the third straight day the sprawling complex on the Tigris river was bombed.

U.S. Central Command said U.S.-led forces targeted the presidential bunker and residence along with the New Presidential Palace in the Al-Khark section west of the Tigris.

Warplanes also struck a farm used as a command and control post southwest of Baghdad and a military store in the Iraqi capital, Centcom said.