ON THE IRAQ-KUWAIT BORDER — The ground war has begun

[wovenwonder]

Operation Iraqi Freedom is officially underway.
(from Fox News)
The U.S. 3rd Infantry Division's artillery opened fire Thursday night on Iraqi troops in southern Iraq, using Paladin self-propelled howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems in the first stage of the ground war.

Maj. Gen. Bufourd Blount, the division commander, had said the artillery barrage would signal the first phase of the ground war against Iraq.

GIs on the ground cheered as the sky lit up when cannons fired dozens of artillery shells. In the distance, explosions could be heard inside Iraq.

A large explosion has been reported in the southern city of Basra, which allied forces hope will be the first city to fall as they march toward Baghdad.

And from CNN-
U.S. Marines have clashed with Iraqi troops, and a heavy artillery barrage has begun along the border between Iraq and Kuwait, New York Times reporter John Kifner reported Thursday.

Kifner is traveling with the U.S. 1st Marine Division, which engaged Iraqi troops south of the Iraqi border in Kuwait, in what is believed to be the first ground combat of the war.

 

[pokiemomo181]

Baghdad is being hit now too.



Pokie

 

[jamsmom]

May God have mercy on all the innocent.

 

[Claudia1]

Our community is proud to have a miltary air base. All week, and even today, we have heard the planes leaving.

As the TV was showing the beginning assult, we heard planes fly overhead and then a HUGE crack of thunder (from an oncoming storm). For a split second, we thought one of our planes had gone down.

Prayers for all involved.........