The town is the only major sea port for goods to enter Iraq. It is some 50 km (30 miles) south of the key city of Basra, which US military sources say will be a first target for invading forces. However, neither the Iraqis nor the British would officially confirm that the town had fallen.

Earlier, the US troops began a sustained bombardment of Iraqi positions in southern Iraq last night, unleashing the “awesome fire power” from artillery brought into position from Kuwait the previous day.

According to a Kuwaiti official, Kuwaiti forces were involved in ongoing clashes yesterday with Iraqi troops on the border between the two countries.

Air raid sirens wailed across the country throughout the day and the Defense Ministry confirmed that six missiles had been fired at Kuwait, two of them Scuds that were intercepted by Patriot missiles.

Air raid sirens sounded several times, indicating that a dangerous event or disaster had occurred. Pedestrians and drivers had mixed reactions to the unexpected undulating ear piercing sound.

Some drivers pulled over at hotels, while others accelerated to get home or to shelters. Many just stopped their cars and watched the commotion unfolding around them.

Egypt Air’s office in Kuwait witnessed a big rush of Egyptian workers, who wanted to have seats on Cairo-bound flights. The airline’s officials said there were no seats available on scheduled flights in the near future. Moreover, cancellation of certain flights had caused problems to many passengers. At Al-Sultan Supermarket, few shoppers could be found. Dale Dutton, a civilian employee of the Kuwaiti Army’s 8th Battalion 35th Brigade, and his wife Boglarka Pagan-Dutton, were doing their weekly grocery shopping, unaware of the events that led to the sirens blaring.

“I’ve lived here six and a half years and have not heard the sirens before,” Dutton told Arab News. “My wife and I don’t know what caused it. I feel no tension, but my wife — who arrived six months ago — is a little worried. We are equipped for anything. We have our gas masks in the car.”

The Kuwaiti government announced yesterday that schools in the country will be closed for a week from tomorrow.