The bombing of civilian residential areas, medical centers, and hospitals in Iraqi cities by the belligerent U.S. and British coalition forces reveals the inhumane character of the illegitimate war against Iraq.

On April 3 World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland expressed regret over the attack on a hospital on the outskirts of Baghdad which caused heavy damage to the facility.

There have also been reports of missile attacks on general hospitals and maternity hospitals in Iraqi cities. Television networks have shown images of demolished civilian residential areas from various Iraqi cities such as Baghdad and Basra.

The number of civilian victims is increasing as the war enters its 18th day.

Many analysts believe that U.S. forces, and in particular the U.S. Marines, are using more violence than necessary in their attacks, causing an increase in civilian casualties.

After suffering casualties in Nassiriyah, U.S. forces significantly intensified their attacks, especially at night.

According to some political analysts, U.S. officials' miscalculations about a speedy victory over the Iraqi regime and the U.S. forces' psychological inability to endure a long war have aggravated the situation.

The war that was heralded as a war to bring democracy and freedom to the Iraqi people is taking a heavy toll on Iraqi civilians, whom U.S. President George W. Bush and his henchmen claimed would welcome U.S. troops with flowers and sweets.