Shortly after explosions erupted in Baghdad Wednesday evening, President Bush addressed the nation and confirmed that the attack on Iraq had begun.

Bush described the action as a strike on "selective targets of military importance" but did not elaborate. CBS National Security Correspondent David Martin said the surgical strike was aimed at Iraqi leadership in downtown Baghdad targeted by the CIA.

About 40 cruise missiles of the extremely accurate Tomahawk variety were fired at a bunker, followed by a 2,000-pound "bunker-busting" weapon dropped from an F-117 stealth fighter.

In his speech, Bush said the United States had "no ambition except to remove a threat and return [Iraq] to its people." He said the United States would accept no outcome but victory and promised that coalition forces would make every effort to spare civilians from harm (click here for the full text of Bush's speech).

The attack, which does not appear to be the beginning of a sustained effort, came about two hours after the deadline Bush set for Saddam Hussein to flee Iraq. Officials gave no indication of whether the missile strike was successful.

Bush said the invasion of Iraq "could be longer and more difficult than some predict." Officials said late Wednesday that ground forces are not expected to be mobilized for at least 12 hours.

About three hours after the strike, a man believed to be Hussein appeared on Iraqi television and said the attacks add to Bush's "shameful crimes against Iraq and humanity."

Hussein, who opened the speech by dating it March 20, made no suggestion of surrendering and instead declared that "Iraq will win, ... humanity will win," and "God will give us victory."

The Iraqi leader said his enemies will be humiliated and defeated and that he will "do what has to be done" to protect Iraq against what the U.S. military is now calling Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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[Last updated 03.20.2003 1:23 AM EST]