"All that we are saying is that a number of Tomahawk Cruise missiles were fired from Royal Navy submarines at command and control targets in Baghdad," local reports quoted a defense ministry spokesman as saying.

However, the defense ministry did not reveal the number of missiles and submarines involved in the attack.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced in a televised address late Thursday that British forces have joined the war against Iraq by land, sea and air, which local reports believed signals acceleration of the United States-led war against Iraq.

Blair's statement came amid reports that British Royal Marine commandos spearheaded the first land attack on Iraq by British and US forces.

They stormed into southern Iraq in a lightning attack by 3 Commando Brigade following a massive aerial bombardment, reports said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2003)