War on Iraq begins (apparently)

This article featured in today’s Sunday Express in Britain. The Express is not famous for its accuracy, but I though it might be worth posting for everone to see:

ALLIED TROOPS IN MAJOR ASSAULT ON IRAQI BASES

by Yvonne Ridley

Military action against Iraq has started with RAF fighters coming under fire as 5,000 commandos invaded the north of the country to sieze a key airbase.

The news will come as a shock to MPs, who are demanding a parliamentary debate on the threat of British-backed war to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

As details of the invasion emerged last night, politicians accused Britain and the US of starting a war “through the back door”

The first salvo in the secret war was fired when Britain and American jets knocked out a curcial air defence system using new laser guided bombs.

After RAF pilots crippled the chinese made fibre optic defence system, 5,000 Turkish commandos were able to launch an attack in northern Iraq vitually undetected, according to documents seen by the Sunday Express.

Pentagon officials initially denied the attack, but when challenged with specific details by the Sunday express, a spokesman called back two hours later to issue the terse statement: “We cannot comment on current or future operations. He refused to elaborate.

A spokesmen for the MOD did admit there had been a skirmish over the no-fly zone involving British and American planes.

He also confirmed that an “enhanced” version of the paveway weapon system had been used to knock out the mobile Chinese-made defence system.

But he denied any knwoledge of an invasion by Turkey in the north. And the Turkish embassy said: “These allegations have been fabricated.”

However, military documents shown to the sunday express reveal that Allies have:

-Blasted an early warning radar system protecting the skies over Baghdad

-Invaded Iraq from turkey less than 48 hours later in the north

-Captured three Iraqi military bases, including an airfield

-Defeated ill-equipped Iraqi soldiers in a battle involving US special forces troops

At 5am on August 6, US and british jets destroyed the Iraqi air command at Al-Nukhaib in a dessert loaction near the Saudi Arabian boarder, just under 300 miles south of Baghdad.

less then 24 hours later two US squadrons flew provocatively over the Iraqi capital. there was no anti-aircraft fire, leading the Americans to believe that Saddam’s early air warning radar systems are inoperable.

Within 48 hours, at 5pm on August 8, the Iraqi early warning systems were tested again as a fleet of Turkish troop-carrying helicopters swept over the boarder to the strategic Bamarni airbase.

The 5,000 Turkish commandos were backed by Us special forces. Witnesses on the ground calimed air protection was provided by Turkish, American and British aircraft. Calims of a British air involvement in this particular action drew a strong denial by the MOD.

After a brief skirmish with ill equipped Iraqi troops, Barmarni fell into allied control.

As turkish troops reinforced security around the airport, American special froces and a crack unit of Turkish commados seized two other strategic points in Iraq’s Dahuk province.

Americans are now confident thay have air superiority over the entire region.

Defence analyst Paul Beaver said: “If your information is correct I would say the US us developing an air bridge into Kurdistan to support the Kurdish fighters against Saddam. We are seeing the opening steps to a more comprehensive engagement of Iraq”.

copyright Sunday Express August 18, 2002

I’d guess the enhanced paveway discussed is the GPS augemented guidance version introduced recently as result of the Kosovo campaign.