The war with Iran has spilled into Iraq after a US jet crashed to earth following a suspected mid-air collision and a French air base is on fire with one soldier dead after a drone attack.

A rescue mission is underway to find the American refuelling plane and its crew of at least three people.

As the conflict headed into a 13th day, the US aircraft involved in the military operation against Iran ‘went down’ in western Iraq, with no suggestion of hostile or friendly fire.

And a major blaze appears to have broken out at at a French air base in Erbil, Iraq, following a drone attack.

A helicopter was apparently hit and at least six French soldiers were injured. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed early this morning that one had died.

‘Their presence in Iraq is part of the strict framework of the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks,’ he said. ‘The French soldiers there have no connection to war or conflict. They are simply military advisers legally present in Iraq’.

An explosion was also reported near the U.S. Consulate and the Erbil International Airport area, where there is a US military base.