Fallujah battles recall Vietnam street battles

American forces thrust into the heart of the rebel stronghold of Fallujah today, fighting fierce street battles not seen since the Vietnam war and conducting house-to-house searches on the second day of a major assault to recapture the Iraqi city.

The US military said the operation was going ”smoothly” and reported lighter-than-expected resistance in Jolan, a Sunni-militant held warren of alleyways in north-eastern Fallujah where the assault began.