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Huge plumes of smoke can be seen in the city along with the crack of anti-aircraft fire heard. Sky's David Chater, in Baghdad, said what appeared to be cruise missiles were landing in the city. "I can see what appears to be cruise missiles arcing like a shooting star. "Four targets in front of me are burning away." Sky correspondent Ross Appleyard said American artillery in northern Kuwait had opened up with what sounded like a "huge barrage" onto troop positions in southern Iraq. "We are guessing, but they are probably shelling the Iraqi frontlines," Appleyard said. The targets are around 30kms across the Iraqi border, Appleyard said. Up to 100 artillery shells are believed to have been fired. "The ground is shaking," he said. "You can feel the vibrations and the air is full of of aeroplanes and helicopters. "It feels frightening just from here, so goodness knows what it is like to be underneath all this firepower 30kms within Iraq. These things are so huge they can travel huge distances." Troops alerted Associated Press reported that howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems were fired at Iraqi troops by US 3rd Infantry Division. Major General Bufourd Blount, the division commander, had said the artillery barrage would signal the first phase of the ground war against Iraq. Earlier, the Pentagon announced that US forces in northern Kuwait were ready to launch a major attack. Troops are assembled close to the border with Iraq have been ordered to be battle ready - wearing full chemical protection suits and gas masks. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon - following the first meeting of Britain's War Cabinet - said a larger scale operation was "very, very near. |
On the diplomatic front, Downing Street has announced Tony Blair has recorded a television broadcast that will be aired "at the appropriate time". Campaign launched Up to four oilfields to the south and west of Basra in the south are reported to have been set on fire. The first air salvoes started at dawn when the US military says about 40 cruise missiles were fired at the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Washington admitted the attack came earlier than expected following intelligence information on the whereabouts of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. CIA director George Tenet told the US President that intelligence sources indicated the possibility that Iraqi leaders were meeting in the area. President Bush gave the go-ahead for the attack - aimed at "taking out" Saddam and "decapitating" the Iraqi regime. Just hours later, the Iraqi leader made a television appearance urging his people to fight to victory and declaring a holy war. Retaliation US security officials said a glitch in the speech proves it was pre-recorded - and hinted a Saddam body-double could have been used. The CIA is trying to ascertain if the Iraqi leader was killed in the strikes - but say that could take days. However, Israeli security sources said Saddam's appearance was "live and authentic". Iraq responded to the dawn attacks, in which they claim one civilian was killed, by firing scud missiles on targets in Kuwait. According to US officials, they were targeting US troops. Two missiles hit Kuwaiti territory and two were intercepted by patriot missiles. Artillery fire was also heard in an attack on Iraq from northern Kuwait. France is leading the opposition to the war, with President Jacques Chirac calling for a swift end to action. Russia, China and Germany have all expressed "grave concerns". |
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Burn, Baby, Burn!
