Fw: Basra: US, British Bombing Leaves Iraq's Second Largest CityIn Flames]




>
> Subject: Basra: US, British Bombing Leaves Iraq's Second Largest City In
Flames
> Date: 04 Apr 2003 07:06:30 -0800
>
> http://www.irna.com/en/tnews/030404132738.etn04.shtml
>
> Islamic Republic News Agency (Iran)
> April 4, 2003
>
> Basra in flames
>
> -The reports further said that the fires from the oil
> wells are being fanned by exploding bombs dropped by
> coalition warplanes.
>
> Shalamcheh, Khuzestan Prov, April 3, IRNA -- Thick
> columns of smoke were seen billowing from Basra and
> engulfing most of southern Iraq.
> According to reports arriving from the border city of
> Shalamcheh on Thursday morning, nine oil wells in
> Basra have been set ablaze by heavy coalition
> bombardments of the city in the past few days.
> The reports further said that the fires from the oil
> wells are being fanned by exploding bombs dropped by
> coalition warplanes.
> Basra has been under siege by British ground forces
> for the past fortnight in a major push to occupy the
> city.
> The city has been under continuing air raids, missile
> and artillery barrage attacks by US-led forces more
> than any other southern Iraqi urban area since the
> outbreak of the current war.
> Black columns of smoke from the burning oil wells in
> the skies over Basra can also be seen in the skies of
> the Iranian cities bordering southern Iraq pushed by
> north-south winds.
>