Iraq briefing

Quick overview

The sandstorm died down and a force of 1000 American soldiers parachuted into northern Iraq to open a second front. An explosion killed at least 15 civilians in an area of Baghdad that housed no known Iraqi military targets. Iraqis blame the US-led coalition. The US says it is not certain who is to blame. Friendly fire between US Marines near Nasiriyah left 30 soldiers wounded, two seriously.

The fight

* US Marines fought bloody skirmishes as their surge north towards Baghdad came under sporadic Iraqi attack but got through Shatra and reached Qal'at Sukkar, about 100km north of Nasiriyah.

* A major battle continued in the central city of Najaf, where 1000 Iraqi soldiers and one US soldier have been killed.

* US-led forces destroyed most of a column of 120 Iraqi tanks and armoured personnel carriers trying to leave Basra.

* A site near Najaf remains suspicious after coalition troops found indications that chemical or germ weapons might have been made or stored there.

* Kuwaiti officials said a Patriot missile shot down a rocket fired at Kuwait from southern Iraq.

Leaders

* British Prime Minister Tony Blair flew to the US for a two-day summit with President George Bush at Camp David.

* Australian PM John Howard declined to make the trip, preferring to stay home where Parliament is sitting and support for Australia's role in the war is on the rise.

* Saddam Hussein has not been seen since a television statement screened on Monday.

Food aid

* Trucks with 20 tonnes of food and water crossed the border from Kuwait to the Iraqi town of Safwan and were immediately swarmed by residents.

* Umm Qasr port expected to open late tonight, allowing a British Navy ship carrying 231 tonnes of food, medicine, blankets and water to dock. Two ships carrying 100,000 tonnes of wheat from the Australian Government are also in the area awaiting clearance.

Herald Feature: Iraq