QATAR: U.S. ATTACK AIRCRAFT LEAVE THE AL UDEID AIR FORCE BASE AS THE WAR AGAINST IRAQ STARTS.

Record ID: 355528

  • Title: QATAR: U.S. ATTACK AIRCRAFT LEAVE THE AL UDEID AIR FORCE BASE AS THE WAR AGAINST IRAQ STARTS.
  • Date: 20th March 2003
  • Summary: (U1) DOHA, QATAR (MARCH 20 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) NIGHT SHOTS ALL 1. TRACK: VIEW OF JET TAKING OFF FROM AIRPORT AND ITS AFTER BURNER. (2 SHOTS) 0.31 2. TRACK: SILHOUETTE OF ATTACK AIRCRAFT AGAINST THE NIGHT SKY FLYING OVER AIR BASE. 0.43 3. VARIOUS: MORE VIEWS OF FIGHTERS FLYING OVER SKIES AFTER LEAVING AIR BASE AND LANDING. (5 SHOTS) 1.43 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th April 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DOHA, QATAR
  • Country: Qatar
  • Reuters ID: LVA22A370RBJ1QGEL1KTTDLQY74C
  • Story Text: Nine United States attack aircraft pierced the skies of
    Qatar on Thursday after leaving the Al Udeid air force base as
    a U.S. deadline for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq,
    or face war expired.



    Between 00:30 gmt and 01:30 gmt, nine attack fighters
    left Al Udeid Air force base, operated by the United States
    Air force and nestled in the desert
    near the capital of Doha in Qatar. A total of 11 planes took
    off from the airport, two of the aircraft were refuelling
    planes.

    The afterburners from the fighters pierced the night sky
    which was engulfed by the moon and disrupting the quiet
    serenity of the plain.

    The fighters took off shortly before and after a United
    States deadline expired.

    Explosions rocked Baghdad at dawn on Thursday (March 20)
    as the United
    States launched a war to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

    Reuters correspondents in the city centre heard jets roar
    overhead, Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries open up and air raid
    sirens sound about 90 minutes after a U.S. deadline expired.

    The U.S. military appeared to take over the main frequency
    of Iraqi state radio, saying Saddam's administration was under
    attack. This is the day we have been waiting for, it said.

    In Washington, U.S. President George W. Bush said the
    attack on Iraq was in its early stages; These are the opening
    stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign, Bush
    said in an address.

    Another Baghdad radio station run by Saddams elder son
    Uday played a military song and called on local people to
    resist: This is our day. Let us start the fight. We will be
    victorious.

    We will all die as faithful martyrs.

    The first blasts seemed to come from the southern and
    eastern suburbs. Heavy plumes of black smoke billowed from the
    east after the same target appeared to have been hit three or
    four times. Explosions later hit the city centre.



  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register