A wave of stealth bombers and cruise missiles was launched on Baghdad today as the long-expected US-led attack on Iraq got under way.
Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired and precision-guided bombs were dropped from F-117 Nighthawks, the US air force’s stealth fighter-bombers, military officials said.
Air raid sirens followed by a series of explosions were heard in Baghdad at 0234 GMT (5.34am Baghdad time). The action began 90 minutes after the US Bush’s deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq passed.
The attack began in Baghdad with the sun just rising. A handful of cars were speeding through the streets of the Iraqi capital, but no pedestrians were visible on TV cameras beaming pictures from the city. The only sound heard was that of a mosque’s muezzin making the call for the faithful to come to dawn Islamic prayers.
The opening salvo against Iraq consisted of about 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from US warships.
”Early this morning on order we commenced Tomahawk operations against Iraq. Four cruisers and two submarines participated in these initial strikes,” Rear Admiral John Kelly told reporters on the USS Abraham Lincoln. He said the ships involved were all American ships.
The attacks appeared to be an attempt to ”decapitate” the Iraqi leadership through a precise strike rather than the massive aerial bombardment that US military officials had threatened – the so-called ”shock and awe” opening to war. There was no indication whether key targets had been hit.
Bush addresses nation
At 0315 GMT, two hours after the expiry of the 48-hour deadline George Bush had given to President Saddam to leave Iraq or face war, the US president went on television to inform the American people that the war had begun.
He said: ”Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force. We will accept no outcome but victory.”
”We will accept no outcome but victory,” Bush said: ”The dangers to our country and the world will be overcome.”
The strikes were intended ”to undermine Saddam’s ability to wage war”, Bush said. ”These are the opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign.” More than 35 countries were part of the coalition, the president said, and were ”bearing the duty and sharing the honour” of serving in ”our common defence”.
President Bush said he wanted America and all the world to know that every effort would be made to ”spare innocent citizens from harm” in Iraq.
The Iraqi people would see the ”honourable and decent spirit” of the American military, who are fighting against an enemy who know nothing of the conventions of war, he added.
”We will defend our freedom, we will defend others, and we will prevail.”
Cruise attack to shock and awe
Blair given notice of attack
A British military spokesman at Camp As Sayliyah, the US central command post in the Gulf, said the British ”were not expecting the strike”.
But a Downing Street spokesman said Tony Blair had been informed of the start of the strikes on Baghdad.
”The prime minister was informed shortly after midnight [London time] that attacks on a limited number of command and control targets [were] being brought forward.
”As regards the involvement of British forces, [Tony Blair] will set out the position in due course.”
Britain is the only country making a major military contribution to the US-led military operation, with some 45 000 British troops deployed in the Gulf.
Blair took the biggest gamble of his political career in backing military action against Iraq despite strong opposition within his party and the British public. On Tuesday he won a mandate from parliament for military action to disarm President Saddam.
Propaganda broadcast
As the attack began, American messages were broadcast on Iraqi airwaves saying: ”This is the day you have been waiting for,” according to Al-Jazeera TV.
Meanwhile Iraqi satellite television, broadcasting after the attack began, said of the US troops: ”It’s an inferno that awaits them. Let them try their faltering luck and they shall meet what awaits them.”
Troops prepared for attack
A US-led force of 300 000 — including some 40 000 British troops — were massed against Iraq, ready to topple the Iraqi leader.
As he has many times in the run-up to war, President Bush declared that the United States has ”no ambition in Iraq except to remove a threat. Our forces will be coming home as soon as their work is done.”
The White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer, had announced Bush’s plans to speak on short notice. Fleischer spoke as anti-aircraft fire and explosions were heard across Baghdad after air raid sirens went off at the capital at dawn.
Bush’s speech came at the end of an anxious day of waiting at the White House. The president scrutinised final battle plans and told Congress why he was poised to launch the largest pre-emptive attack in US history. – Guardian Unlimited Â