Coalition aircraft and artillery destroyed several Iraqi armored vehicles that streamed out of the besieged city of Basra overnight, the top British commander in the Gulf said Thursday morning.
Air Marshal Brian Burridge said he did not have specifics on how many of the estimated 120 tanks and armored personnel carriers heading south out of Basra toward British troops were destroyed, or what type of weaponry was used against them.
British pool reports said U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornets and Royal Air Force Harrier ground attack jets dropped precision-guided munitions and cluster bombs on the Iraqi armor.
From the ground, the column was pounded by 155mm AS90 heavy artillery from 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, and 105mm light field guns from 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery, said the reports from the British Press Association.
"Having established that these forces were not trying to surrender, U.K. forces took swift and decisive action against this threat, destroying a number through a mixture of artillery and airpower," Burridge told reporters.
A day earlier, British artillery destroyed a smaller column of about 20 vehicles trying to get out of Basra through the north, he said.
He acknowledged British forces ringing the city had "come up against some stiff opposition," but predicted victory.
Burridge said British forces had also attacked 11 Iraqi mortar firing positions and some T-55 tanks during fighting around the city. He added the column of vehicles that was targeted was manned by conscripts and regular army troops who were rounded up by Saddam Hussein loyalists and forced to drive toward the British positions.
"This isn't a formation that really knows its business," he said. "You are not dealing with forces that can maneuver."
Meanwhile, dozens of US marines are reported to have been injured by "friendly fire" near the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. An AFP correspondent said a command post headquarters has been hit with shell and mortar fire. Several of 37 injured Marines are said to be in a critical condition. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
