The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Guerilla Warfare can be a two edged sword, with UK sniper teams inexorably reducing the number of Fedayeen in Basra.

British snipers have begun operating inside Basra in a series of "harass and destroy" missions against Iraqi regular and paramilitaries defending the city.

Difficulties in locating Iraqi army and militia units are being overcome by "turning" Ba'ath party members against the regime and sending them to confirm hideouts.

At least four Iraqis have been shot dead by the snipers, who hide in disused buildings or in rubble on the fringes of Basra to mount their attacks.
Dozens more Iraqis are thought to have been killed by artillery fire and bombs directed by the snipers, who are also acting as forward observers for coalition forces.

Major Ben Farrell, the commanding officer of 2 Company of 1st Battalion Irish Guards, which has a nine-man team of snipers working inside Basra, said the use of snipers, who could strike without warning, was designed to shatter the morale of the fedayeen paramilitaries and other troops.

"Our snipers are working in pairs, infiltrating the enemy's territory, to give us very good observation of what is going on inside Basra and to shoot the enemy as well when the opportunity arises," he said.

"They don't kill huge numbers, but the psychological effect and the denial of freedom of movement of the enemy is vast."