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LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - Iraq's southern port town of Umm Qasr, where U.S. and British forces have been trying for days to put down Iraqi resistance so that aid can be shipped in, is now "safe and open", a British commander said on Tuesday.
Following are the known military operations by 1300 GMT on day six of the war:
BAGHDAD: The outskirts of Baghdad were pounded by waves of heavy air strikes through the day in an apparent effort by U.S. and British forces to target the capital's outer defences, a Reuters correspondent said.
U.S. forces attacked Iraq's elite Republican Guards defending the approaches to Baghdad.
The Medina Division of Republican Guards stands between Baghdad and U.S. armoured columns that have thrust to the Kerbala area, 95 km (60 miles) south of the capital.
SOUTHERN IRAQ: Brigadier Jim Dutton, commander of the British Royal Marines' 3rd Commando Brigade, declared the southern Iraqi port town of Umm Qasr "safe and open".
Britain declared Basra a military target after an Iraqi army division had engaged the British in about a dozen artillery exchanges over 24 hours. However a British spokesman later said British troops would not enter Basra to battle irregular Iraqi fighters.
British forces south of Basra have blocked an attempted breakout by up to 50 Iraqi tanks seeking to press southward from the edge of the city.
A big convoy of U.S. Marines crossed the Euphrates river and Saddam Canal at Nassiriya, resuming a key advance toward Baghdad after fighting their way through the city.
Marines laid down a 3.5-km (two-mile) corridor of armoured vehicles and the convoy charged through the streets under cover of helicopter rockets and a barrage of artillery, tank and heavy machinegun fire.
A northward advance on the far bank of the Euphrates could eventually form the eastward arm of a pincer movement on Baghdad, 375 km (235 miles) north of Nassiriya.
NORTHERN IRAQ: Aircraft carried out raids on targets in or around the northern city of Mosul, the heaviest to target the city and surroundings since the raids began last week.
Following are the known military operations by 1300 GMT on day six of the war:
BAGHDAD: The outskirts of Baghdad were pounded by waves of heavy air strikes through the day in an apparent effort by U.S. and British forces to target the capital's outer defences, a Reuters correspondent said.
U.S. forces attacked Iraq's elite Republican Guards defending the approaches to Baghdad.
The Medina Division of Republican Guards stands between Baghdad and U.S. armoured columns that have thrust to the Kerbala area, 95 km (60 miles) south of the capital.
SOUTHERN IRAQ: Brigadier Jim Dutton, commander of the British Royal Marines' 3rd Commando Brigade, declared the southern Iraqi port town of Umm Qasr "safe and open".
Britain declared Basra a military target after an Iraqi army division had engaged the British in about a dozen artillery exchanges over 24 hours. However a British spokesman later said British troops would not enter Basra to battle irregular Iraqi fighters.
British forces south of Basra have blocked an attempted breakout by up to 50 Iraqi tanks seeking to press southward from the edge of the city.
A big convoy of U.S. Marines crossed the Euphrates river and Saddam Canal at Nassiriya, resuming a key advance toward Baghdad after fighting their way through the city.
Marines laid down a 3.5-km (two-mile) corridor of armoured vehicles and the convoy charged through the streets under cover of helicopter rockets and a barrage of artillery, tank and heavy machinegun fire.
A northward advance on the far bank of the Euphrates could eventually form the eastward arm of a pincer movement on Baghdad, 375 km (235 miles) north of Nassiriya.
NORTHERN IRAQ: Aircraft carried out raids on targets in or around the northern city of Mosul, the heaviest to target the city and surroundings since the raids began last week.
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