UK troops join Iraq river assault

British troops provided cover from the river bank

British Black Watch battle group soldiers have taken part in a river assault on a rebel stronghold to the south of Baghdad.

More than 100 Queen's Dragoon Guards provided tank cover from the west bank of the Euphrates while US Marines arrived in assault boats.

The US troops waded to the eastern bank and stormed houses believed to be hiding "high-value" insurgents.

Rockets were fired from the area into Black Watch's base at Camp Dogwood.

The joint raid, on the village of Chard Duwaysh, was part of Operation Plymouth Rock, which aims to root out rebels.

This is unbelievable -it's like a scene from Apocalypse Now or something. Even the trees look the same. It could be The Mekong Delta Corporal Dave Ceely

The area is thought to contain many Saddam Hussein loyalists and former senior members of the Iraqi National Guard and Mukhabarat secret police.

Surprise

One former Ba'ath party member was captured and taken away for questioning during the raid in the early hours of Sunday.

The troops were said to have met with little resistance.

Watching the operation through his nightsights Corporal Dave Ceely, 22, turned to his sergeant major and whispered: "This is unbelievable -it's like a scene from Apocalypse Now or something. Even the trees look the same. It could be The Mekong Delta."

The Dragoon Guards had camped overnight on the west side of the river, about three miles from their base at camp Dogwood, about 25 miles south-west of Baghdad before the attack.

Major Jasper de Quincy, commander of the Guards' operation, said: "Using night cover increases the element of surprise.

The Americans have supported us and now we are doing the same for them. It's good to be able to help the Americans as a kind of payback Major Jasper de Quincy Black Watch chief urges support

"We are exposed to mortar fire here if any rebels over there decide to counter-attack. They have done it before and we have learned this to our cost."

He described the raid as "a joint operation in reverse". He said: "The Americans have supported us and now we are doing the same for them. It's good to be able to help the Americans as a kind of payback."

US troops provided air cover for the British when they undertook a similar but slightly larger operation a few miles to the south on Thursday morning.

Ten people captured in that operation are still being questioned.

On Saturday, Black Watch soldiers went into villages on the western bank of the river to check the area and search houses and villagers in preparation for Sunday morning's operation.

They were met with suspicion and fear but no overt hostility.

One Iraqi said he and his neighbours were frightened by the soldiers' weapons but added: "We appreciate the fact that you are talking to us. The American soldiers don't do that."

This article contains pooled material from Sunday Telegraph reporter David Harrison and Daily Mirror reporter Chris Hughes. Picture by Michael Dunlea of the Daily Mail.