Commandos launch second major offensive on Basra

British Royal Marine Commandos today launched a second major offensive in the south west outskirts of Basra.

The elite forces began the attack with heavy shelling at about 3.30pm local time (13.30 Irish time) as they edged ever closer to Iraq’s second city.

The campaign comes a week after the Marines’ biggest attack of the war - code-named Operation James – when they seized large parts of the city suburbs.

Marines from 3 Commando Brigade are now pushing ever deeper into the city, with support from 59 Independent Commando Squadron, Royal Engineers.

Artillery support, which can be heard across the suburbs, is being provided by the AS90s and 150 Light Guns of 29 Commando.

There are also the mighty Challenger 2 tanks from 2 Royal Tank Regiment.