British troops have engaged directly in the fight to wrest control of Basra from the Mehdi Army for the first time, with artillery based at the airpor

British troops fight Mehdi Army

British troops have engaged directly in the fight to wrest control of Basra from the Mehdi Army for the first time, with artillery based at the airport firing on guerilla positions while British and American warplanes took part in bombing and strafing runs. The Iraqi army has been fighting the Iranian-backed militia without UK help, and British commanders at Basra still intend to play a back-seat role. Meanwhile, a senior US military adviser accused the UK of failing "as an ally". (Sunday Telegraph)
Let the Iraqis sort out the mess in Basra