28 March US Chief of the Joint Staffs, Gen Richard Myers, declares air supremacy over 95% of Iraq. More than 650 Tomahawk missiles have been fired and more than 5,000 precision-guided munitions dropped since start of war. RFA Sir Galahad docks in Umm Qasr with humanitarian supplies. Coalition aircraft attack nine meeting places favoured by Ba'ath party officials and paramilitary chiefs - at least 200 thought killed during a night attack by two US Air Force Boeing F-15E Eagles on a meeting north east of Basra. A USAF Fairchild A-10A attacks a column of British Army light armour, killing one and injuring four.
29 March Iraq fires CSS-1 Silkworm anti-ship missile at Kuwait, damaging a shopping centre in Kuwait City. No casualties reported. More than 1,000 sorties flown during last 24h, Tomahawk use rises to 675 missiles and PGMs to more than 6,000. UK intelligence sources say Iraq has replaced the commander of air defence forces after surface-to-air missiles miss coalition aircraft and fall back on Baghdad. First use of a suicide bomber. US halts cruise missile flights over Saudi Arabia after a number come down in the country.
30 March Coalition aircraft again fly nearly 1,000 sorties, mostly against the Iraqi Al Nida, Baghdad, Hammurabi and Medina divisions. Command, control and communications targets and air defence sites in Baghdad and northern Iraq also targeted. More than 700 Tomahawks used and more than 8,000 precision-guided munitions dropped in total. Coalition now operating from Iraqi airfields. UK's 3 Commando Brigade launches offensive near Basra which secures Abu al Khasib. US DoD says it has seen reports that Saddam Hussein family members and other senior regime members are trying to leave Iraq.
31 March About 2,000 sorties flown, including 800 strike missions against fixed and emerging Republican Guard targets, 400 in-flight refuelling missions - 76 million litres (20 million USgal) of fuel have been transferred since the start of operations - 250 airlift missions and 125 command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties.UK forces secure al-Zubayr, the second biggest town in southern Iraq. Also gain foothold in the suburbs around Basra.
1 April Of 1,900-plus sorties flown, 800-plus are strike missions against the Republican Guard. Tankers fly more than 400 missions, there are around 250 airlift sorties, and coalition command and control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew just under 150 sorties. PGM use increases to 10,000 - over 70% of munitions are precision guided. Iraqi surface-to-surface missiles continue to be a factor with short-range Frogs launched at a US Army camp and further missiles shot down over southern Iraq by Patriots. Chinese-built Seersucker shore-to-ship missiles used against Royal Marine positions on the Al-Faw peninsula.
2 April Turkey agrees to let US military supplies through its territory. This allows support of forces in northern Iraq and emergency landings by aircraft in distress. More than 1,900 sorties flown, of which 900 are strike missions. Two-thirds of these are against the Republican Guard. Also 500 tanker sorties. US Central Command says this increase indicates the close-air support nature of missions: "They are no longer boring in and flying out now... Aircraft are loitering in 'kill boxes', hitting targets and then waiting for the next mission." USA says Baghdad division of the Republican Guard destroyed - defines destroyed as "incapable of effective manoeuvre or defence".
3 April US Congress votes to approve $80 billion supplementary budget to pay for conflict. Baghdad Airport attacked by lead US Army units. Coalition has used more than 12,000 PGMs. Electricity cut in Baghdad for first time. Centcom says coalition has not targeted the supply.
4 April USA says it has control of 80% of Baghdad Airport.
Source: Flight International
