U.S. Tries to Spare Civilians in Fallujah

April 28 -- U.S. troops have launched a new military plan in the Iraqi city of Fallujah that would target insurgents without staging an all-out attack on the city.

A series of explosions rocked Fallujah today and gunfire erupted in a new round of fighting. Today's battles follow a thunderous attack launched Tuesday night by American planes and artillery on at least two positions believed to be held by Sunni insurgents in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

A senior military official told ABCNEWS before the bombing started that the military would "soon" begin a "low-key campaign to reduce the opposition." The official said the plan was for "night operations" using precision-guided munitions, AC-130 gunships and snipers.

"We'll respond to cease-fire violations at the time and place of our choosing," the official said.

Psychological Warfare

This military plan also involves psychological operations. Just before the bombing began Tuesday night, there were two broadcasts in Arabic — one apparently aimed at spooking the insurgents, the other possibly meant to help civilians.

Before the shelling began Tuesday, U.S. aircraft dropped white leaflets written in Arabic over Fallujah, calling on insurgents to give up.

"Surrender, you are surrounded," the leaflets said. "If youare a terrorist, beware, because your last day was yesterday. Inorder to spare your life end your actions and surrender tocoalition forces now. We are coming to arrest you."

TV network pool reporter Karl Penhaul, on assignment in Fallujah, provided a translation of the messages he heard for a number of U.S. media outlets. News operations are pooling their resources due to the continuing danger they face on the ground.

"One of the messages earlier was calling on the insurgents to come out and fight and then there was a tape recording of laughing," Penhaul said.