Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A huge blast hit central Baghdad today, reportedly striking the palace of Saddam Hussein's son Qusay and sending smoke mushrooming hundreds of feet into the air.
The strike came on a day when America unleashed all of its hi-tech bombers in an unprecedented onslaught in and around Baghdad. The US Central Command said the attacks were carried out simultaneously by multiple B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, adding that it was the first time all three long-range strike aircraft had targeted the same area at the same time.
Meanwhile, military sources said today that British troops destroyed 17 more tanks in a running battle with Iraqi forces. The 16th Air Assault Brigade, including tanks and artillery,destroyed the Russian-built T55 tanks after encountering an Iraqi force of two infantry companies.
Tank battle: The Iraqi tanks were destroyed in the Rumaila oilfields. The engagement, involving troops from the 16th Air Assault Brigade, began late yesterday afternoon and carried on into the early hours of the morning.
The British force, including tanks and artillery, encountered an Iraqi force of two infantry companies – around 300 to 400 men – also supported by tanks and artillery.
In the fighting that followed, 17 Russian–built T55 tanks and five artillery pieces were destroyed. A number of Iraqis were reported to have been taken prisoner. A British military source said: "They fought as a unit, they fell back as a unit, they counter attacked as a unit. It was not a ramshackle operation."
Around Basra: Hundreds of Royal Marine commandos pressed on into the city as they sought to build on their biggest offensive so far in the Iraq war.
By nightfall yesterday, around 600 Royal Marines from 40 Commando had taken up a "consolidation position" in the suburb of Abu al Khasib after a fierce 15-hour assault designed to encourage Saddam Hussein's opponents in Iraq's second city to rise up against his regime.
A number of Marines also moved into an area to the east of Abu al Khasib, leaving what is believed to be a brigade-sized Iraqi force trapped in the middle.
An additional company of men from 42 Commando were flown in by helicopter to help block an escape route for Iraqi troops.
By mid-morning, around 30 Iraqis were dead and hundreds were reported captured, military sources said. Several enemy tanks had also been destroyed.
A total of 14 British troops were reported injured.
Baghdad: Streaks of anti-aircraft tracer fire lit up the sky as heavy bombing shook the capital just after 5.15am local time (3.15am BST).
Firefighters were seen tackling the blazing ministry of information which threatened to set fire to a neighbouring shopping centre.
In Rustamiyah, eastern Baghdad, the main training centre for the Iraqi paramilitary forces was bombed by the coalition yesterday, US Central Command said.
Targets in the capital also included the Abu Gharayb Presidential Palace, near Saddam International Airport, and two facilities at the Karada Intelligence Complex.
South and west of Baghdad: Coalition forces targeted the Iraqi Republican Guard - Saddam's best trained fighters - in the hope of weakening Iraqi defences ahead of a US-led ground assault.
On the ground, the closest known point in the US-led advance on Baghdad was the town of Hindiyah 50 miles south of Baghdad, between the sacred city of Karbala and the ruins of ancient Babylon.
The 4th Batallion of the 64th armored regiment rolled into the town of 80,000 at dawn - met by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. At least 15 Iraqi troops were killed.
American troops said they had captured several fighters who said they belonged to the Republican Guard's Nebuchadnezzar Brigade, based in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.
Najaf: 100 miles south of Baghdad, US forces encircled the Shiite holy city of Najaf (population 300,000) and said they had killed about 100 paramilitary fighters and captured about 50 Iraqis.
The US Central Command said that 100 "terror squad members" were killed yesterday at Najaf and another town in fighting with the 82nd Airborne Division.
Najaf is strategically important as a major supply base for Baghdad, and Allied commanders are said to be unsure whether to continue fighting for the city or simply to cut it off.
It is in Najaf that Ali, son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad, is buried at an extraordinary shrine, its gold dome and twin minarets gleaming for miles.
North of the capital: Kurdish fighters have made further advances as Iraqi forces withdrew towards the major oil centre of Kirkuk, still under Baghdad control.
The US-backed Kurdish troops gained almost 10 miles but were hampered by a series of dense minefields left by Iraqi troops, said Ares Abdullah, a Kurdish commander.
Kirkuk is the country's second largest oil-producing region and considered by Kurds as an essential part of their ethnic lands.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments