AIRPORT BOMBED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 108, 9 May 1941, Page 7

AIRPORT BOMBED

IRAQ EXPLOSIONS

British Forces Dominate

Hostile Arabs

British Official Wireless. Rec. 1 p.m." RUGBY, May S. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states: 'In Iraq the Bagdad airport was bombed by the R.A.F. yesterday. Some damage was done to buildings and to the aerodrome road. Violent explosions occurred when direct hits were obtained on a magazine at Washah. near Bagdad. Other bombs hit military buildings. Bombs were also dropped on dispersed aircraft at Hanaidi. "There is little activity to report in the Habbaniyah area. Yesterday our troops, in occupying high ground outside the cantonment, met with no opposition except for occasional sniping. Hostile forces seen to the east of our positions were heavily attacked from the air." Following the successful British action on .May 5 and 6 against a portion of the Iraq army which, at the instigation of military adventurers, treacherously attacked Habbaniyah, the situation both at Habbaniyah and at Basra has remained quiet. British captures include six guns and over 400 prisoners. "Operations against rebel Iraqis yesterday were carried out by our aircraft with such effect that heavy casualties were inflicted on them and much confusion caused." stated an earlier R.A.F. communique quoted by the British Official Wireless. It added:—"The aerodrome at Moascar al Rashid was again bombed. One hangar was completely t destroyed by fire, a twin-engined aircraft on the tarmac was blown up. a number of others were severely damaged, and the aerodrome surface was badly cut up. Our aircraft received practically no opposition.

"In the Habbaniyah area continuous and close air support was given while Royal Air Force armoured units. troops and Iraqi levies attacked and drove off the enemy from the plateau overlooking the Royal Air Force station. The rebel casualties were very heavy. Ours were negligible. "On the previous night the rebels were given no rest, as their lines were attacked continuously by our aircraft. - ' British aircraft have been carrying howitzers to Habbaniyah as well as bringing up reinforcements and evacuating women and children. The Iraqi forces have suffered 1000 casualties at the hands of Imperial troops. In the fighting today 2G Iraqi officers and 400 other ranks were taken prisoner. The Imperial forces' losses were slight.