The prime minister, Tony Blair, today told the Commons that coalition forces were just 60 miles (96 kilometres) from Baghdad, and in a ”crucial moment” would soon encounter a division of the Iraqi Republican Guard defending the route.
Blair paid tribute to British servicemen killed in the war. Less than half an hour later, the Press Association reported that, earlier in the day, another UK soldier had died in action near Al Zubayr, in southern Iraq, according to military sources.
The news came as efforts were made to locate and recover two other UK soldiers who have been missing in action in southern Iraq since yesterday.
Al Zubayr is south of Iraq’s second city, Basra, where Desert Rats were today encountering stiff resistance, with reports that some had withdrawn after coming under heavy fire.
Reporting to MPs on the progress of the war, Blair confirmed that coalition ground forces were approaching Karbala, the Shi’ite holy city around 60 miles (96 kilometres) south of the Iraqi capital. The prime minister added: ”It is a little way from there that they will encounter the Medina division of the Republican Guard.”
US attack helicopters have already mounted air assaults on the Medina division, and US commander General Tommy Franks confirmed that two airmen were missing in action after one raid by around 40 Apache assault helicopters. The missing airmens’ Apache went down near Karbala during the attack on the elite units.
Gen Franks denied reports that the Apache had been shot down by farmers, but it was unclear whether it had been hit by enemy fire or had crashed. Iraqi TV showed an Apache without any obvious signs of damage. Two helmets were pictured at the scene, but there was no sign of the crew.
Despite encountering ”sporadic resistance”, which he said was ”not surprising”, Gen Franks insisted that coalition forces were making ”rapid, and in some cases dramatic, progress”.
Blair told the Commons: ”The vital goal is to reach Baghdad as swiftly as possible, thus bringing the end of the regime closer.” Earlier, Iraqi TV showed footage purporting to be a recent address by the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, praising the ”valiant” Iraqi military and pledging victory. US and British officials said they could not confirm whether it was him, or how contemporary the footage was. The coalition has been mounting fresh daytime air strikes against Baghdad and Nassiriya. At around 1600 GMT, there were reports of fresh explosions around Baghdad.
Earlier, it emerged that a sandstorm was stalling the US army’s 3rd Infantry Division as it moved towards Karbala. The soldiers also had to call for coalition air protection, which wiped out a column of Iraqi fighters and forced some others back towards Baghdad.
In Najaf, just south of Karbala, Iraqi forces defended themselves with rockets and anti-aircraft guns.
Baghdad, which was rocked by several dawn raids today, experienced a fresh round of explosions at midday (GMT). There were reportedly six explosions coming from the east and south-east, Reuters said.
Air raid sirens were heard, but no anti-aircraft fire was seen. Four or five explosions were heard to the south of Baghdad.
Reuters correspondent Samia Nakhoul said that it was hard to detect visible signs of the new blasts as black smoke from burning, oil-filled trenches was still hanging over the city.
Today’s early morning raids were the largest to hit the capital since US and British bombardments began on Thursday.
Meanwhile, US marines bombarded the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya with artillery this afternoon, Reuters reported. Troops work to ‘de-mine’ key waterway US commander General Tommy Franks said that the channel of water leading into Umm Qasr had been partly cleared of mines. The waterway provides valuable access for ships delivering humanitarian aid.
”De-mining operations have cleared about half of the channel to Umm Qasr,” he said, adding that ships carrying humanitarian aid were waiting to go into the area.
Patriot stalls missile
In the north of Kuwait, a US Patriot battery shot down an Iraqi missile fired at coalition forces, according to American and Kuwaiti officials quoted by Reuters.
A US military statement said: ”Two bright orange flashes were seen over Kuwait as the engaging Patriot missile destroyed the Iraqi tactical ballistic missile.
”It is unknown, at this time, what type of munitions the Iraqi missile was carrying.”
Saddam: Cut their throats
Iraqi TV showed footage early today purporting to be a recent address by the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, praising the ”valiant” Iraqi military and pledging victory. US and British officials said they could not confirm whether it was him, or how contemporary the footage was.
He said: ”Iraqis will cut their throats as God has commanded you. Strike them, and strike evil so that evil will be defeated … We are witnessing the bravery of brave Iraqis, all the glorious armed forces and holy believers. All the infidels will be defeated. We will be victorious over the enemies of God.”
He pledged victory over the ”enemies of God” and said ”we made a lot of sacrifices to avert war” but now that it was underway his forces would repel the coalition. ”Iraqis will cut their throats as God has commanded you,” President Saddam said.
Iraq’s information minister claimed that 62 people had been killed by US-led forces in the previous 24 hours and that more than 400 had been wounded, according to Reuters news agency. Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf said that 194 had been wounded in Baghdad, with 30 killed in Babel and 14 in Basra. – Guardian Unlimited Â