By NNN-KUNA
London : Coalition jets dropped bombs on Basra overnight for the first time in four days of fierce fighting, the British military authorities confirmed Friday.
British and US jets have been patrolling the skies over the second city since last Tuesday as Iraqi forces launched a major offensive against Shia militias.
The action, being overseen personally by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, is the first major military operation in the city since it was handed over to full Iraqi control last December.
The bulk of Britain’s remaining 4,100 military personnel in Iraq are stationed outside Basra but have not played an active role in the fighting, maintaining a so-called “overwatch” position.
British Royal Air Force jets have, however, been involved in aerial surveillance over insurgent positions and Iraqi helicopters have been able to refuel at Britain’s Basra airport base, British press reports said.
There was no immediate confirmation of whether the bombs dropped Thursday night were released by British aircraft or other members of the US-led coalition. But Major Tom Holloway, British military spokesman in Basra, said there had been “incidents of weapons release” over the city Thursday night.