In his commentary from the Iranian side of the Shatt al-Arab waterway across from Basra, the television's correspondent said he could hear the sound of aircraft over the city and air raid sirens and explosions.

Basra and other parts of southern Iraq that fall within a no-fly zone patrolled by British and US warplanes since the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf war have long been a frequent target of bombing raids.

Baghdad refuses to recognize the zone and a similar one over northern Iraq, neither of which sanctioned by any UN resolution, resulting in almost daily clashes between Iraqi air defences and the Western aircraft.

The raids have intensified in recent weeks as London and Washington gear up for a new full-scale offensive against Baghdad.

WAR.WIRE