US launches huge attack on Iraq
US-led forces have launched what appears to be their first sustained assault on Iraq in the war to oust President Saddam Hussein.
Ground troops advanced into southern Iraq at about 1700 GMT after a heavy aerial bombardment.
Correspondents say the sky lit up and huge blasts could be heard as missiles slammed into Iraq every few seconds.
Soon afterwards, massive explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard in the capital, Baghdad, where all-clear air raid sirens have now sounded.
Television pictures showed buildings on fire and plumes of smoke rising from the heart of the city, where government buildings are located.
LIVE: Pictures of Baghdad here
Iraqi television has broadcast pictures of Saddam Hussein chairing a cabinet session. It was impossible to establish when the footage was shot.
In the south, a huge column of 10,000 United States armoured vehicles, including tanks, advanced across the border from northern Kuwait.
Correspondents say it was an awesome display of power. A Pentagon spokesman said current operations were still "preparation of the battlefield".
Unconfirmed reports say several oil wells in the area are on fire.
British forces have also joined the invasion of Iraq, according to reports from the Gulf.
At a news conference, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld threatened military action of "a force and scope and scale beyond what has been seen before".
HAVE YOUR SAY
It's not a war - it's a unilateral show of muscle power to the whole world
AbuBakar Ahmed Syed, UAE
He said a damage assessment of targets struck in Baghdad early on Thursday was still "pending", and repeated US advice to Iraqi troops to defect.
Meanwhile, US and British officials say Iraq has fired a number of missiles into Kuwait - a claim denied by Baghdad.
A British military spokesman said Patriot missiles had intercepted some of the 10 Scud-type missiles over Kuwait.
Air strikes
The US launched its war on Iraq with air strikes early on Thursday on Baghdad.
ATTACK OPTIONS
Shortly afterwards, President George W Bush delivered a live television address announcing the start of war.
US officials described the attacks as an attempt to "decapitate" Saddam Hussein's government by killing senior figures.
But the Iraqis said the president had survived the assassination attempt unscathed - he appeared unbowed on television to prove the point.
Saddam Hussein said the "invaders" would be defeated, and he called on the Iraqi people to defend their country.
Iraq said some non-military targets had been hit, including a customs office and a site belonging to Iraqi radio and television.
One civilian was killed and 14 others injured in the US strikes, the International Red Cross later confirmed.
Kuwait alert
British and US troops in northern Kuwait were put on full alert after reports that Iraqi missiles were being fired into the area.
Soldiers immediately donned full protective gear, including gas masks. There are no reports of casualties.
We will accept no outcome but victory
US President George Bush Watch speech
Officials say they are examining debris from the missiles.
BBC News Online's world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says that, if any were confirmed to be Scuds, this would be proof that Iraq had broken the terms of the UN resolution which bans Iraq from having missiles with a range beyond 150km.
In other developments:
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is to address the nation on the conflict at 2200 GMT
Parliament in Turkey votes to allow US planes to use Turkish airspace for the war on Iraq
The Pentagon says a US special forces helicopter crash-landed in southern Iraq before the attacks began - crew and troops on board were rescued
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan calls on all sides in the conflict to do their utmost to protect civilians
Targeted strike
We will resist the invaders
Saddam Hussein
President Bush addressed the American nation about two hours after the passing of the 0100 deadline he had set Saddam Hussein to go into exile or face war.
He promised a "broad and concerted campaign" and said the US would prevail.
But, he warned, the campaign could be "longer and more difficult than some predict".
Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk
Published: 2003/03/20 20:01:26 |
