Paras move in to clear Basra resistance

At least 500 elite paratroopers moved into Basra today.

The soldiers from the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment were clearing resistance from paramilitaries and fedayeen fighters in the city’s old town.

A military source said: “It’s a bit of a maze in there and we can’t get in with tanks or armoured vehicles so we’re going in on foot.”

The area was not surrounded, which would lead to a last-ditch bloody battle with the fedayeen.

Instead, it was being progressively “cleared” of resistance.

3 Para have so far been kept largely in reserve but were considered ideal for the task of rooting out remaining opposition in the back streets.

British forces moved into Iraq’s second city en masse yesterday.

The Ryal Scots Dragoon Guards in Challenger 2 tanks, the Black Watch in armoured vehicles and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers pushed into the city from the south west, and Royal Marine commandos came in from the south.

The original objective was to take the outskirts but resistance was found to be light.

A military source said: “It turned out there was a soft underbelly and we saw an opportunity, which we took.”

The British forces were still encountering “pockets of resistance” as they tried to secure the city today and civilians were looting.