US troops seize airfield in Kurdish area

AMERICAN troops have parachuted into northern Iraq and seized a key airfield in Kurdish-controlled territory to open a new front in the war against Saddam Hussein’s regime.

About 1,000 paratroopers, including elite US Army Rangers, jumped from the low-flying planes under cover of darkness. Their tanks, other vehicles and supplies will be airlifted in behind them.

Warplanes from the USS Theodore Roosevelt provided cover by pounding Iraqi ground troops and bunkers across the north of the country.

The Pentagon had hoped to move a large ground force into the area from Turkey. But the Turkish parliament refused to allow that, and the parachute drop led by the 173rd Airborne Brigade signalled the start of plan B.

The weather finally cleared up over central Iraq yesterday after a vicious sandstorm described by residents as the worst in living memory.

US commanders said the allies would use the opportunity to step up the pressure on their adversaries.

“You will certainly see us increase our activity in the coming hours and days, given the clearing weather,” said one official at US Central Command.

Allied jets took to the skies in force yesterday and destroyed Iraqi units as they approached within 10 miles of the American lines near Karbala, 50 miles south-west of Baghdad.

“I can’t believe they keep doing this. It’s suicide to come at us like this,” said Lt Eric Hooper.

Amid some criticism at home, Washington yesterday said it was sending more than 30,000 extra troops to the war zone, including the high tech 4th Infantry Division from Texas.

They are expected to help secure supply lines and reinforce coalition forces approaching the Iraqi capital of five million people.

Hundreds of miles to the south, coalition forces pounded an Iraqi convoy heading south out of the besieged city of Basra. A British military source said it included as many as 120 tanks and other armoured vehicles.

It dispersed after allied jets pounded it with air strikes, and yesterday morning British troops destroyed 14 of the Iraqi tanks. It was believed to have been the largest tank battle involving British forces since the Second World War.

The destruction of the convoy raised hopes that ground troops could enter the city soon. Relief officials have warned the 1.3 million residents are at risk from an humanitarian crisis because of the interruption of power and water supplies. Irregular Iraqi troops have so far stopped British forces entering Basra, where there have been reports of a popular uprising against Saddam.