Reuters March 23, 2003
U.S. Marines say across Euphrates at Nassiriya
SOUTHERN IRAQ, March 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Marines in southern Iraq were poised to strike north across the Euphrates river after taking control of bridgeheads on the far bank at the city of Nassiriya, a Reuters correspondent with the troops said.
U.S. officers also said that the 11th Division of the Iraqi army had "capitulated". That report could not be confirmed.
"U.S. officers said that U.S. Marines have crossed the Euphrates and are holding positions on the north bank at Nassiriya," said Reuters' Sean Maguire, who was with the First Marine Division, still southeast of the city early on Sunday.
No details of the 11th Division's reported surrender were available. Iraqi officials on Saturday denied U.S. statements that the commander of the 51st Division had surrendered and a U.S. commander said his forces had fought and defeated elements of the 51st around the southern city of Basra.
According to U.S. defence think-tank globalsecurity.org, the 11th Infantry Division is based around Nassiriya and, along with the 51st Mechanised Division, is part of Iraq's III Army Corps. Iraqi army divisions can number up to 15,000 men but many are below their full fighting strength. Speeding columns of the U.S. Third Infantry have covered nearly two thirds of the 500 km (300 miles) from the Kuwaiti border in two days before running into Iraqi resistance near Najaf on the southwest bank of the Euphrates.
A strike north across the river towards the Tigris river and Baghdad could create a pincer movement on the capital.
U.S. officers believe units of President Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guards face them at Najaf -- the Medina Division -- and at other cities south of Baghdad, like Kut on the Tigris, where the Baghdad Division is thought to be based.
Copyright © 2003, Reuters
