Iraq says fighting continues over southern Iraq

68 sorties were flown over southern Iraq yesterday from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia by US and UK warplanes, Iraqi News Agency reported. The spokesman for Iraq's Air Defense Command said the warplanes attacked "service and civilian installation[s]" in the provinces of Basra, Thi-Qar, Qadissiya, Meissan, Muthanna, Najaf and Wassit.

In a separate report, INA said US Marines were involved in an "act of piracy" against two Iraqi ships, Jinan and Milad, landing on the ships from helicopters and attacking their crews. The report added that US Navy forces and planes are "often involved in similar acts."