The US today began its military assault on Iraq with an opportunistic attempt to kill Saddam Hussein and the rest of his Ieadership with a salvo of cruise missiles and bombs.
But the attempt to ”decapitate” the Iraqi government appeared to have failed when President Saddam made what Iraqi state television said was a live TV address around three hours after the attacks.
In a short but defiant speech, the Iraqi dictator vowed to lead his country to victory and said: ”The criminal little Bush has committed a crime against humanity.”
Around 30 cruise missiles were launched from four US warships and two US submarines with the first strikes heard hitting targets on the outskirts of Baghdad at 0234 GMT (5.34am local time). US stealth bombers also launched strikes.
Reports later claimed one Iraqi civilian had been killed in the first action of ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’ which came around 90 minutes after the passing of the 0100 GMT deadline set by US President George Bush for President Saddam to leave Iraq.
The Washington Post said the raid was ordered after the CIA had located where President Saddam was meeting aides in a private residence.
A British military spokesman said: ”There was a meeting of five Iraqi personnel, which [US forces] thought they would have a go at, and so they decided to strike … This was a warning shot across the bows, and we still want Saddam to surrender.”
Reports claimed the missiles had hit a TV and radio station and a civilian suburb. A marine spokesman said targets were also hit in southern Iraq.
A lull in attacks was now expected although an American commander said similar strikes would continue for two or three days before an allied invasion and huge air assault, which the US has said could involve some 3 000 bombs and cruise missiles.
Iraq missiles target Kuwait
Around six hours after the first US strikes, Iraq responsed by firing at least four Scud missiles into northern Kuwait, according to a spokesman for the Kuwaiti military.
One was intercepted by US Patriot missiles, and the rest fell in the area near the Iraq border and in Kuwait Bay, Colonel Youssef al-Mullah, said. He added that there were no injuries and that it was not known if the missiles were carrying any non-conventional weapons.
Emergency sirens had wailed in Kuwait City and people had scrambled to put on gas masks, before the all-clear was given.
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.
”The dangers to our country and the world will be overcome.”
The first strikes were intended ”to undermine Saddam’s ability to wage war”, Bush said. ”On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage war. These are 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.”
Saddam defiant
Three hours after the attack began, Iraqi state television broadcast what appeared to be a live address by President Saddam.
”This is a crime against our dignified and great nation,” he said in a short speech.
The Iraqi leader pledged to defeat the American-led invasion. He told his people: ”We have great hope that history will be on our side.”
”I pledge … that we will resist the invaders. And, God willing, we will make them lose patience and they will never achieve their goals. They will be met by an everlasting defeat that they will never forget.”
Dressed in military uniform, wearing a black beret and reading from notes, President Saddam told Iraqis not to be afraid and promised that they would prevail.
”Don’t be afraid, don’t fear anybody,” urged President Saddam. ”We have great hope that victory will be on our side … injustice will be defeated by your swords.”
In a clear sign that he was attempting to link the attack on Iraq to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, his last words were: ”Long live Iraq, long live jihad and long live Palestine.”
Blair to meet key ministers
Tony Blair was scheduled to hold a war cabinet to discuss the military strikes on Iraq at 0830 GMT today, a spokeswoman said. She said a full cabinet meeting would be held later in the morning.
Commenting on the US strikes, 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 before the start of the strikes on Baghdad.
”The prime minister was informed shortly after midnight [GMT] that attacks on a limited number of command and control targets were being brought forward,” Downing Street said. ”As regards the involvement of British forces, [Mr 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.
Workers urged to protest
As US missiles made their first strikes on Baghdad this morning the UK anti-war movement called on British workers to stage a mass walkout from offices and colleges around the country.
Describing the outbreak of hostilities as a ”day of shame”, the Stop the War Coalition hopes to draw on public feeling that saw over a million people take to the streets of London last month.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament also urged Britons to protest against the ”illegal, immoral war”. It called on campaigners to gather outside Downing Street at 6pm. The group also encouraged British soldiers to disobey orders and refrain from entering combat.
The Muslim Council of Britain condemned the outbreak of war and said it was a ”black day in our history”.
A joint statement from Christian Aid, Cafod, Oxfam, Save the Children UK and Action Aid called for coalition forces to take ”all possible precautions” to avoid civilian casualties in Iraq, and demanded extra funding to rebuild the country after war.
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.” – Guardian Unlimited Â