Members of the British Desert Rats in their Challenger tank in Basra

BASRA , April 6 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Met with what they described as "patchy" resistance, British tanks have entered the centre of Basra , Iraq 's second largest city, BBC News Online reported Saturday, April 6.

The British so-called Desert Rats, the 7^th Armored Brigade combat troops, pushed deep into the city center, British Army spokesman Colonel Chris Vernon told the British broadcaster.

"We're undertaking a brigade-sized push into the middle of Basra with tanks and infantry so we can secure the streets.

"One is meeting minimal resistance, one has gone almost intact with no resistance at all with impunity and the other one is yet to report in," he said.

Hundreds more tanks are reportedly heading down one of the main highways towards Basra .

"This is a major push, which could go a long way towards breaking Saddam Hussein's grip on the population," said BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus.

"This not probing, this is not reconnaissance - they are going to stay there and they are going to take ground. They are not encountering anything that is going to cause them to pull out again," he said.

Vernon told the Sky News that the Iraqi defences had been "weakening," driving the British troops to “made the decision this morning.”

"We've been targeting the Baath party officials and the irregulars very, very successfully and we had a very big hit the other day on some very senior officials," he said.

Vernon added that the Desert Rats met "patchy" resistance as the troops moved in from the south west.

The British troops were supported by the Irish Guard and the Royal Scots Dragoons Guard, about 14 Challenger II tanks and 14 Warrior armored personnel carriers.

The British fleet of armored vehicles advanced to within about four and a half miles (seven kilometers) of the city centre, according to Captain Alex Cosby of the Irish Guard.

"We've gone up to the roundabout that marks the gates of Basra…We met resistance - but a lot has been destroyed…We've destroyed some armor (sic) and are now engaging bunker positions," said Cosby.

For his part, British forces spokesman Group Captain Al Lockwood told BBC that the troops' "aggressive patrolling" was intended to "penetrate deeper into the city" and "finally sort out" the Iraqi resistance fighters.