The Houston Chronicle March 23, 2003
Operation Iraqi Freedom: Day 4
U.S. and British forces besieged the southern city of Basra on Saturday and moved to within 100 miles of Baghdad, while airstrikes continued on other Iraqi positions across the country.
The area surrounding Saddam Hussein's presidential palace is the center of Iraqi military and government offices. The compound has endured daily pounding aimed at penetrating bunkers and undermining the foundation of the regime's control
U.S. combat and support units met limited resistance from the Iraqi military in the initial stages of the race to Baghdad. How the ground campaign began:
1. The ground war was preceded by intense shelling from artillery fire and helicopter-launched missiles shot over the border, targeting Iraqi defense.
2. Berm and tank ditch along border was cleared with bulldozers. Army engineers cleared a path through the fence dividing the two sides.
3. The 1st Marine Division entered Iraq at 9 p.m. local time on Thursday. Marines seized side roads for troops to move quickly.
4. Several hundred Iraqi soldiers surrendered as coalition troops advanced. POW camps will be set up on the Iraqi side.
5. As Marines secured oil facilities, airfields and sites of strategic military importance, armored divisions are advancing, in convoy, trailed by wheeled support vehicles.
Turkish and Kurdish governments deny previous reports of an advance by Turkish troops into northern Iraq
Reports of airstrikes and anti-aircraft fire
In central Iraq, Sky News television reports four U.S. soldiers killed when two Humvees are hit by rocket-propelled grenades
Fighting between U.S. scout units and Iraqi forces
American forces crossed the Euphrates River and made their way to within 100 miles from Baghdad
U.S. forces control city
U.S. forces fired Tomahawk missiles at suspected positions of the Ansar al Islam guerrillas; car bomb near the Ansar al Islam encampment killed at least five, including an Australian journalist
U.S. bombs headquarters of Iraqi Army's 2nd Corps
In Baghdad, targets were uncertain on fourth night of airstrikes, though 20 huge columns of smoke were visible on the southern edge of the city; west of Baghdad, Tomahawk missile destroys another of Saddam's palaces
As many as three U.S. missiles aimed at targets in Iraq may have landed in Iran, according to Pentagon officials
U.S. aircraft bomb Iraqi tanks; coalition forces take airport
Grenade attack kills one and injures 13 soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division; an American soldier was detained as a suspect
GRAPHIC: Map: 1. Location of new presidential palace and of old presidential palace; 2. Location of STRATEGY IN THE DASH ACROSS THE BORDER; 3. Location of Target sites reported Saturday; 4. Location of Doha, Qatar U.S. command center.; 1.-4. Jay Carr / Chronicle; Associated press, Sources: United Nations; Associated Press; The New York Times; National Imagery and Mapping Agency; GlobalSecurity.org; Center for Strategic and International Studies; DigitalGlobe TYPE: Graphic
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