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Anchor: We interrupt our regularly scheduled program to bring you this breaking news up-date. American and coalition forces began their campaign against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his regime with what reports are saying is a strategic attack on certain important targets. The attack began just shortly after the 48 hour deadline had expired. It’s not completely clear why these particular targets were chosen; however, it seems the plan was to get a quick first-strike on Saddam Hussein and his high level advisors. For more on this situation we go to our correspondent Rachel DeWitt who is reporting live from Baghdad. Good morning, Rachel.

DeWitt: Good Morning.

Anchor: Rachel, What is the situation like there? What kind of mood can you sense in the city of Baghdad today?

DeWitt: Well I think the only word for it is fear. Many people have already fled the city, and those who haven’t already left are being told by the national radio to stay in their homes. It’s not known yet whether or not there will be more air-strikes today. Of course, many people believed that the war would begin with a massive bombardment of Baghdad. However, it seems that coalition forces have chosen a more psychological route and have chosen to attack a few important, strategic targets. Our latest reports tell us that the main target was an Iraqi leadership compound where intelligence sources say that Saddam and his chief advisors were likely to have been.

Anchor: And, Rachel, do we know anything yet about the Iraqi response? Has there been any word yet?

DeWitt: There’s no official response yet from the government. It’s still very early in the morning and I don’t think that the government has had time to convene and prepare a statement that is ready for release. However, in the short time before the attack began, an air-raid siren was sounded and almost immediately after the sound of aircraft could be heard. Then the anti-aircraft barrages began firing into the early morning sky, with their tracer bullets arcing over the horizon. So this shows the Iraqi forces weren’t caught completely off guard. However, I don’t think they quite anticipated the attack would come so soon.

Anchor: Alright, thank you Rachel. We’ll be checking in with you later on for more updates on the situation in Iraq as it unfolds.

DeWitt: Thank you

Anchor: Well just to recap. Coalition forces have launched their attack on Iraq with a series of strategic missile launches and air-strikes. There is as yet no response from Iraqi president Saddam Hussein; however I think the message is pretty clear: war has begun. We have to go to commercial now, but we’ll bring you more on this situation right after this.