U.S. forces storm into western districts of Fallujah

U.S. forces stormed into the
western outskirts of Fallujah early Monday, seizing the
main city hospital and securing two key bridges over the
Euphrates river in what appeared to be the first stage of
the long-expected assault on the insurgent stronghold.
The U.S. military reported Monday its first casualties of
the offensive_ two Marines killed when their bulldozer
flipped over into the Euphrates River.
An AC-130 gunship raked the city all night long with
cannon fire as heavy explosions from U.S. artillery
continued into Monday morning. Four 500-pound bombs were
dropped over Fallujah before dawn. Orange fireballs from
high explosive airbursts could be seen above the rooftops.