US marines roll into Iraq as Baghdad is blitzed

US marines rolled into Iraq tonight as massive explosions rocked Baghdad when the capital came under attack by cruise missiles and bombs.

Three major sites in the city were hit and the Iraqis responded with massive anti aircraft fire. Tracer bullets lit up the night sky over Baghdad

Pentagon sources said the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force had crossed through the demilitarised zone into Iraq.

Before the marine advance, US forces on the Kuwaiti border opened fire with heavy artillery on Iraqi troops in southern Iraq, marking the first stage of the ground war.

The US 3rd Infantry Division bombarded Iraqi positions with Paladin self-propelled howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems.