FALLUJAH, Iraq, Nov 8 (AFP) - Some 3,000 US troops entered the rebel city of Fallujah from the northern entrance Monday after a green light from Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, a senior US officer told AFP.
"The attack started at 7:00 pm (1600 GMT)," the high-ranking official said.
Four battalions comprising soldiers and marines, on a front spanning some five kilometres (three miles), advanced about one kilometre inside the city, he said.
"The Iraqi forces are waiting to enter the city," the official added.
The offensive was playing out on two fronts -- one in the northwest across the notorious Jolan district, considered to be the heart of rebel activity, and the other in the northeast, in the direction of the train station.
Intense shelling and missile fire rocked the city, especially the Jolan neighbourhood, long into the night, according to an AFP correspondent inside Fallujah.
"They are in the process of incinerating the sector," a local said, adding that US missiles were raining down on the area.
The skies above burned red late into the night as artillery, warplanes and tanks pounded the Iraqi rebel bastion, west of Baghdad, with a barrage of firepower. Rebels responded to the onslaught with mortar fire.
11/08/2004 20:08 GMT - AFP