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The U.S. commander of the air war in Iraq says coalition warplanes are now flying 24-hour missions over Baghdad.

Lieutenant General Michael Moseley says that's in preparation for a major U.S. ground attack on the Iraqi capital. He says he hopes the Iraqi regime surrenders before that happens but as of today, the plan is being implemented.

Moseley says it's a real challenge to provide U.S. ground troops inside the city with protection from the air, but he says it's possible to limit the loss of civilian lives or property by using the smallest weapon possible.

So far, Moseley says the air operation has killed so many Iraqi troops that the Republican Guard has ceased to exist as a large fighting force, but he warns some Iraqi troops have dispersed into small groups that still pose a threat to U.S. forces.

Moseley also notes that the U.S. dominates the skies over Baghdad so thoroughly that a drone flew a surveillance mission over the city that lasted for 12 hours.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Date published: 4/5/2003

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