British forces set to take Basra

British forces were tonight securing parts of Iraq’s second city, Basra, after pushing their way into its centre for the first time.

The 18th day of war saw allied troops launch two waves of attacks on the city of 1.5 million people after two weeks poised on its outskirts.

Soldiers from the 7th Armoured Brigade – the Desert Rats – made a breakthrough early this morning when they pushed through the outskirts from the south west.

A second attack was launched hours later by Royal Marines from 3 Commando Brigade, with support from 59 Independent Commando Squadron, Royal Engineers.

The foray into the centre comes a week after the Marines seized large parts of the city suburbs, in the biggest attack of the war codenamed Operation James.

Tonight they were testing their hold of Basra after encountering “patchy resistance” from isolated pockets of militia, light fire, and rocket-propelled grenades during their surge in.

Colonel Hugh Blackman, of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, told Nick Parker of The Sun: “It would appear we have them on the run.

“We have certainly secured what is known to locals as the gateway to Basra and are moving further in.

“And the enemy have not been surrendering in large numbers – they have been fighting and dying but that is their choice.

“It is sad but that is how it has to be.

“It’s made sadder that resistance in Basra is becoming pointless.

“We leaned on the door and it burst open. This has been a crucial day.”

TV journalist Diana Muriel, in Basra, told Sky News that, according to senior military sources, refugees escaping from Basra had indicated to the British military that the southern city was “there for the taking, that there was very little resistance inside” in the days before the attack.

British forces were “deployed through the city tonight to try and hold strategic points,” she said.

Parts of Basra overrun by the British – mainly in the west and south-west - were collapsing into turmoil last night as jubilant locals began taking their revenge on hated Baath party stragglers, Nick Parker reported.

Widespread looting was also reported as the ruthless rule of Saddam’s henchmen appeared to be drawing to a close.

Captain Roger Macmillan – a 32-year-old officer with the Scots Dragoon Guards from Edinburgh – said: “The reaction of local people spurred us on.

“As soon as we hit the Fedayeen buildings they came out cheering on the streets and started pointing out the enemy.

“It seems to have vindicated our softly-softly approach and our decision not to rush headlong into Basra.

“People on the streets first appeared in a group of about 200 – then 200 more - until finally it was a flood.

“They were welcoming us openly for the first time. Giving us the universal sign of approval – the thumbs up.

British commanders were said to be delighted with the progress made but remained reluctant to celebrate their triumph until securing the whole city. They were particularly anxious not to be drawn into the labyrinth of streets and alleyways in the congested old city, where Fedayeen die-hards may yet lie in wait.