British: Airstrike likely killed 'Chemical Ali'
Iraqi general's bodyguard found among dead in Basra
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A British soldier stands guard outside the mansion that had been the residence of 'Chemical Ali' near Basra.
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DOHA, Qatar (CNN) -- The Iraqi general known as "Chemical Ali," who reportedly ordered a deadly chemical attack in 1988 against Kurds in northern Iraq, was "probably" killed when coalition forces bombed his home this weekend, British officials said early Monday.
The British military press office at U.S. Central Command headquarters here said Gen. Ali Hassan al-Majeed probably died in the attack because they have identified his bodyguard as among those killed.
The office said al-Majeed -- a cousin to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein -- might have more than one bodyguard, leaving open the possibility that he is not dead.
Major Gen. Peter Wall, chief of staff for British forces in Iraq, said the Iraqi general "probably" died in the airstrikes.
British military sources told CNN that the bombing killed several high-ranking Baath Party officials and left the forces in Basra "in disarray."
Al-Majeed had reportedly been coordinating resistance in southern Iraq. Basra lies about 250 miles [400 kilometers] southeast of Baghdad.
U.S. military officials have said al-Majeed is a member of Saddam's inner circle and holds the military title "southern commander of forces."
In 1988, he ordered a chemical weapons attack on Halabja, in northern Iraq, that killed about 5,000 Kurds, according to news reports.
British troops entered the heart of Iraq's second-largest city Sunday and set up a base there. (Full story)
British officials stressed that their forces had not taken control of the city but said they were "making good progress."
-- CNN correspondent Diana Muriel contributed to this report.
EDITOR'S NOTE: CNN's policy is to not report information that puts operational security at risk.
