Following are the latest key developments relating to the Iraq war.
BAGHDAD -- Four Iraqi soldiers were killed and six others injured during US-led coalition's bombardment, while Iraq shot down some of the 72 missiles US and British forces fired upon Iraq Thursday morning and afternoon, a military spokesman said on Iraqi TV. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein held a top-level meeting Thursday evening to assess the first day of war with the
United States, the local television said. The meeting, the first since the war started, was attended by Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, Minister of Information Mohammad Said Al-Sahaf, Minister of Oil Amer Rashid and Minister of Foreign Affairs Naji Sabri.
CAIRO -- The Iraqi capital city of Baghdad was under heavy bombardment Thursday evening in another round of US air raids, CNN and local TV channel reported. Deafening explosions were heard and the sky was lit by Iraqi anti-aircraft fire in Baghdad.
WASHINGTON -- An unidentified US Marine expeditionary unit has crossed into southern Iraq shortly after US forces positioned in Kuwait launched ground attacks on Iraqi troops, the Cable News Network reported on Thursday.
LONDON -- British troops have launched a ground offensive in Iraq as the United States started a twin attack on Iraqi targets, The Sky News quoted British military sources as saying on late Thursday. Main offensive against Iraq would kick off on Thursday night, the sources said.
KUWAIT CITY -- US and British troops captured the Iraqi border town of Um Al-Qasser Thursday evening, Kuwait's official KUNA news agency reported. This was the first Iraqi town that fell into the hands of the coalition forces hours after the ground battle began.
WAIT CITY -- Air raid sirens wailed for the sixth time in Kuwait late Thursday, but lasted for only minutes before toning down to signal that all was clear. With sirens sounding, residents ran for shelter to seek safety. A missile flew over Kuwait and landed in the sea off the coast, asresidents reported hearing two massive explosions.
BAGHDAD -- Iraqi official news agency has turned down reports that Iraqi town of Um Al-Qasser near the border with Kuwait has fallen to the hands of coalition troops Thursday. But the news agency acknowledged that there are "confrontations between Iraqi military and aggressors in this area.
Source:Xinhua News Agency
|
