Around 2,000 military personnel from Wales are in the Gulf

Air attacks started just 90 minutes after President Bush's 48 hour deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave the country ran out at 0100 GMT on Thursday morning.

After months spent training, hundreds of Welsh servicemen and women are on standby for action.

Following the start of conflict, people across the UK have been urged to be vigilant for terror attacks.

The Home Office has also advised UK citizens to keep tinned food, bottled water and a battery-powered torch in their houses in case of a major terror attack in Britain.

The Muslim community in Wales has expressed its sadness at the start of the military campaign.

Sheikh Saeed heard about the attacks at morning prayer

Many worshippers at the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff were told of the start of the conflict before early morning prayers at 0430 GMT.

"Some of the men came in and said they watched television before they came and the fighting has started and they have already started to throw missiles at Iraq," said Sheikh Saeed.

"My heart just dropped - my heart is bleeding for these people," he added.

Meanwhile, the bishops of the Church in Wales have called for prayer and reflection in response to the hostilities against Iraq.

'Germ warfare'

In Llay near Wrexham, the parents of Michael Garnett, a staff sergeant in the Second Battalion Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers based at Camp Coyote in Kuwait, spoke of their reactions to the first strikes.

"It has been very emotional - it has started and there is no going back," said mother Dorothy.

"I just pray Michael and his other soldiers are going to be alright.

Mr and Mrs Garnett are watching out for news about their son

"When he rang the other day, his spirits were high - he was wanting to get on with it and get it over and get back home.

"I am worried about the germ warfare - when he told me he had the anthrax jab before he went out, I was afraid for him," she added.

Mrs Garnett also said she thought the heat would be a problem, especially when the soldiers were wearing their protective gear.

Sergeant Garnett's father John - who fought in the deserts of Egypt in 1942 - said he knew how his son would be feeling, but remained sure of success.

"I feel confident they will be successful in this campaign," he said.

Hospital plans

On Wednesday, First Minister Rhodri Morgan urged people in Wales to maintain racial harmony in the face of the military conflict in Iraq.

He told an emergency debate in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday that the nation faced "difficult times" as UK and US troops mobilised near the Iraqi border ahead of action.

His statement came just hours after 16 of the 34 Welsh Labour MPs signalled opposition to the conflict by backing an anti-war amendment in the Commons - among 139 Labour MPs who voted against Tony Blair.

Mr Morgan also told the chamber that hospitals in Wales were involved in contingency plans for possibly treating casualties of conflict.