The US and Britain launched widespread air strikes on Iraq as a new crisis flared over UN arms inspections. But a serious rift also developed between the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill and President Clinton, who is facing impeachment.
The Senate Majority Leader, Mr Trent Lott, issued a statement just before the first attacks saying: "I cannot support this military action in the Persian Gulf at this time." But if action goes ahead he was sure all Americans would "fully support US troops in this battle", Mr Lott added.
Shortly afterwards, the first air attacks on Baghdad were reported. Political observers said they believed it was the first time that a military action ordered by a president did not receive full support from Congress.
In a reaction to the bombing last night, a Government spokesman in Dublin said: "We regret that it was not possible for work of the UN inspectorate to be completed and we're disappointed that a peaceful resolution could not be reached.
An urgent statement on the issue by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, is to be sought by the Fine Gael spokesman, Mr Gay Mitchell TD, in the Dail today. Mr Mitchell said he would be seeking an independent assessment through the EU Presidency and Irish UN observers on the Iraq/Duwait border, where five Irish Army officers are serving in the demilitarised zone.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, made a TV address outside 10 Downing Street saying that "Operation Desert Fox" had been launched at 10 p.m. London time.
Mr Blair said: "British involvement will be significant."
"Saddam Hussein has no intention of abiding by the agreements he has made."
He continued: "Despite constant lies, prevarication and breaching of the agreed conditions, the weapons inspectors carried out their task, uncovering in the process vast evidence of weapons of mass destruction."
"Saddam has no intention whatever of keeping to his word. He is a serial breaker of promises."
President Clinton later made a television address to the American nation explaining why he had ordered the attack. In his 15-minute address form the Oval Office , Mr Clinton made only a brief reference to the impeachment problem.
He said that "Saddam Hussein and other enemies of peace may have thought that the serious debate now before the House of Representatives would distract Americans or weaken our resolve to face him down but once more the United States has proved that, although we are never eager to use force, where we must act in American vital interests, we will do so."
The President said that the US would continue to be ready to strike Iraq at any time in the future if necessary. The long-term aim was to get a new government in Iraq and the US would work with opposition forces to bring this about.
Earlier the White House spokesman, Mr Joe Lockhart, said: "The President has ordered substantial military strikes against Iraq. The President decided to take this action this morning after reviewing the conclusions of the report to the UN Secretary General and the Security Council by the UNSCOM chairman, Mr Richard Butler, and discussions with his foreign policy team here at the White House."
US warships and bombers in the Gulf region are equipped with about 400 cruise missiles. Last November a US military strike was called off at the last minute when President Saddam offered to allow arms inspectors access to suspected areas which had earlier been denied.
Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill, who were briefed by President Clinton on the crisis, announced that today's impeachment debate would be postponed if military strikes are carried out. Some Republican members of Congress accused Mr Clinton of using the latest Iraqi crisis to avoid almost certain impeachment but the White House strongly rejected this. "The President of the United States makes national security decisions based on the recommendations of his national security advisers and on the best interests of the people of the United States", it said.
The Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley, condemned the bombing and said it was a "cynical attempt" by President Clinton to divert attention away from the impending impeachment decision.