MORE ON THE CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE IN BAGHDAD ON TUESDAY.

Firing weapons at events such as weddings and funerals is a common practice in Iraq. But not on the scale of Tuesday night.

“They’re all allowed one weapon, and there are 5 million people in this city,” said Staff Sgt. Dale Hall, standing guard over the complex that includes the Palestine and Sheraton hotels.

“[The gunfire] just exploded all over the city. It had to be a reaction to [Lt.] Gen. [Ricardo] Sanchez’s announcement.”...

The sudden eruption of gunfire started a little after 10 p.m. and was startling in its intensity.

Sgt. Christopher Woodruff and others from the 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment ran out of their compound in downtown Baghdad after hastily putting on their gear.

“At first, we thought it was some sort of attack going on,” he said Wednesday morning. “It sounded like it was inside the compound. That’s how loud it was.

“Then word came down the radio that it was just celebratory.”