American forces pound targets south of Baghdad

American forces only 50 miles from Baghdad pounded military targets south of the Iraqi capital with howitzers and rockets before dawn today in an artillery barrage that lit up the clouds like lightning.

Meanwhile, British forces – a day after coming under heavy attack – declared that Basra, Iraq’s second largest, was now a “military target”.

Air Marshall Brian Burridge, the senior British officer in the Gulf, said his troops were trying to break the grip of ruling Baath party militia in the area and other forces loyal to Saddam Hussein.

The American artillery barrages typically lasted for half-an-hour followed by a break as the gunners took aim at other targets. A sandstorm continued to sweep across the area.

The US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division was responsible for protecting the western flank of the battalion assembly area. Eight Bradley armoured personnel vehicles were spaced about 100 yards apart, with machine gun nests set up between them.

Meanwhile, British forces were preparing to move against militia fighters who have prevented them from securing the southern port city of Basra, Iraq’s second largest, officials said.

British forces have surrounded the city in the oil-rich area and secured its airport. Today they declared it a target.

It was not clear if British forces would move into Basra itself to deal with the militia fighters. They have said they wanted to avoid urban combat for as long as possible.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned of a humanitarian crisis in the city, saying “urgent measures” had to be taken to restore electricity and water supply in the city of 1.3 million people.

British troops yesterday faced heavy mortar fire outside Basra amid fierce resistance from loyalist Iraqi troops and irregular militias.

Coalition planes and US helicopters, edging towards Baghdad, targeted Republican Guard positions just south of Baghdad in perhaps the heaviest assault to date on Saddam’s highly trained troops, US officials said.