Moments after the explosions began, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told
reporters in Washington, "The opening stages of the disarmament of the Iraqi
regime have begun."
No airplanes were visible in the skies over Baghdad as the air raid sirens
blared. Yellow and white tracers from anti-aircraft fire were seen in the sky,
and a number of strong explosions went off in the city.
Cable News Network reported that the U.S. was using cruise missiles in the
attacks.
One explosion raised a ball of fire toward the southern part of the capital.

A handful of explosions rocked
Baghdad at dawn today as jets roared overhead, Iraqi anti-aircraft
batteries opened up and air raid sirens sounded.
Reuters correspondent Nadim Ladki, reporting from the city
centre, said the blasts appeared to come from the southern suburbs.
He heard two or three explosions, followed by a similar number
at about 5:30am local time, an hour and a half after a US deadline
for war on Saddam Hussein had passed.