Bombs clear way for ground troops

RAF TORNADOS were bombing Republican Guard targets south of Baghdad last night as part of an aerial offensive to clear a path for US Marines to enter Saddam Hussein’s stronghold.

As Coalition troops fought their way to within 80 miles of the Iraqi capital, the Tornado GR4s were ordered in to drop their enhanced Paveway laser-guided bombs as part of Operation KI/CAS (Killbox Interdiction/Close Air Support), referred to as “Kick Ass” by the Americans.

Killboxes are grid squares, 35 miles by 35 miles, and a “hot” killbox is one that contains identified targets which could hinder the land war advance. The Tornados are ordered in to a specific killbox and given 30 minutes to fire their missiles.