Brits take control of Basra (25 images)

BAS2003040502 - BASRA, Iraq, April 5 (UPI) -- A member of the Irish Guard, also known as the Desert Rats, watches the skyline of Basra for enemy activity on April 5, 2003. British troops have moved just outside the city of Basra and have been conducting raids on resistance groups in Iraq's second largest city. dg/cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI

BAS2003040504 - BASRA, Iraq, April 5 (UPI) - An Iraqi man is searched by a member of the Irish Guard, also known as the Desert Rats, as a comrade looks on from the safety of his foxhole. British troops have moved just outside the city of Basra and have been conducting raids on resistance groups in Iraq's second largest city. dg/cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI

BAS2003040509 - BASRA, Iraq, April 5 (UPI) -- Members of the Irish Guard, also known as the Desert Rats, patrol the area just outside Basra, Iraq on April 5, 2003. British troops have moved just outside the city of Basra and have been conducting raids on resistance groups in Iraq's second largest city. dg/ cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI

BAS2003040606 - BASRA, Iraq, April 6 (UPI) -- A member of the Irish Guard looks on as a Warrior armored personel carrier from the Royal Scots Dragoon, 7th Armored Brigade, aka Desert Rats, leave a former technical school and Bath Party Headquarters they had taken control of only days previous, in route a dawn raid on Basra, Iraq on April 6, 2003. British forces faced fierce resistance inside the city of Basra but kept driving forward taking over control of most of Iraq's second largest city after days of fighting. dg/ cc/cc/Chris Corder UPI