Fort Worth Star Telegram (Texas) March 25, 2003
A.M. Briefing: Day 6
A Readers' Guide To The War In The Gulf
KEY STATS
Vital numbers about the war
PRISONERS: 3,000 - Number of Iraqi prisoners U.S. officials say they have captured.
COST: 75 - Billion dollars that President Bush estimates the war and related expenditures will cost if the conflict lasts one month.
REFUGEES: 14 - Number of Iraqis at a major refugee camp; 60,000 were expected. In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, more than 1 million fled the country.
PUSHING AHEAD
Coalition forces have advanced near Karbala, a town about 60 miles south of Baghdad, and could soon encounter the Iraqi Republican Guard's elite Al Medina Division.
1. NORTHERN IRAQ
American planes landed in Kurdish territory and conducted airstrikes against positions of an Islamic group with alleged al Qaeda ties. Coalition warplanes bombed military barracks near Kurdish-held Chamchamal, near the oil center of Kirkuk.
U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Henry Pete Osman, in charge of military coordination and liaison for Iraq's northern front, arrived in the area Monday, signaling the much-anticipated opening of a second front. More than 200 U.S. forces are now in northern Iraq. Until recently, about 20 to 30 Special Operations forces were in the region.
2. BAGHDAD
In his first appearance since the start of the war, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz held a news conference at a downtown Baghdad hotel. Aziz said that the Iraqi leadership is in "good shape" and that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is in "full control."
Baghdad came under another heavy air attack, but life returned to many streets later in the day, with stores reopening and traffic heavy in some areas. Authorities dug trenches around military offices as smoke from fires set to conceal bombing targets hung over the city.
3. KARBALA
Before dawn, the V Corps' 11th Aviation Regiment targeted Iraqi positions between the cities of Al Hillah and Karbala. U.S. Apache attack helicopters fought a fierce battle with units of Iraq's Republican Guard.
Iraq claimed to have shot down two U.S. helicopters and taken the pilots prisoner. Two pilots were missing.
Coalition troops moving north were halted by a sandstorm.
4. AN NASIRIYAH
Fighting continued in and around what the Marines have nicknamed "Ambush Alley." Heavy small-arms fire kept up as sundown approached on the second day of fighting in the city, key to American advances north because of its two bridges across the Euphrates River.
5. BASRA
Elements of Britain's 7th Armoured Brigade were forced to withdraw in the face of unexpectedly fierce Iraqi resistance. British troops were also involved in civilian rioting near Az Zubayr when their Land Rovers were attacked by rocket-propelled grenades. One British soldier was killed.
6. RUMAILA OIL FIELD
Troops faced deadly ambushes. In the Rumaila oil fields, five Iraqis in civilian clothes who appeared to be surrendering fired at British soldiers. U.S. Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks said seven fires were burning in the field.
SOURCES: The Associated Press, CNN, BBC, The New York Times, The Boston Globe
DEVELOPMENTS
Number of casualties rising for coalition
About 40 U.S. and British military personnel have been killed since the conflict began.
Red Cross asks to see prisoners
As the number of U.S. prisoners grew, the Red Cross continued efforts to visit them. The Red Cross also is seeking access to Iraqi prisoners held by the United States.
Delays are feared in delivery of aid
Despite President Bush's assurance that humanitarian aid to southern Iraq will begin soon, relief workers and British military officials are skeptical. As fighting continues, they say it will take at least several days and probably weeks.
Turkey still plans to invade north Iraq
A U.S. official said no agreement had been reached to stop Turkey from sending troops into northern Iraq. The U.S. fears friendly fire incidents with Turkish forces and clashes with Kurds.
U.S., Russia at odds over weapons sales
The differences between Washington and Moscow over Iraq continued to grow. President Bush told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russian companies are selling war materials to Iraq over U.S. objections. Putin warned that America could be helping to cause a humanitarian crisis in the war zone.
U.S. FORCES
The Army's V Corps
The corps serves a variety of combat and support roles, including clearing minefields and building bridges, command-and-control and helicopter-led assaults.
Troops in region: 3,100
Based: Heidelberg, Germany
Units: Includes elements of the 1st Infantry Division and aviation, logistic and support brigades.
Weapons: Includes Apache helicopters, multiple-launch rocket systems, Paladin howitzers and Abrams tanks.
BRITISH FORCES
1st Armoured Division
A heavy armor division, the 1st includes the 7th Armoured Brigade, nicknamed "The Desert Rats," and the 16th Air Assault Brigade.
Troops in region: 26,000
Based: Herford, Germany
Units: Includes armored, aviation, logistic and various support units.
Weapons: Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, AS90 self-propelled guns, 105 mm light guns and Lynx & Gazelle helicopters
IRAQI FORCES
Northern Corps
The Republican Guard's Northern Corps protects Baghdad and its northern approaches. It also guards Tikrit, Saddam's hometown.
Based: Around northern Baghdad and Tikrit
Troops: 10,000
Units: Al Medina Armored Division, Adnan Mechanized Division and al Abed and Baghdad infantry divisions.
Weapons: T-72 battle tanks, self-propelled artillery, BMP fighting vehicles, anti-tank missiles, and anti-tank and infantry-support guns.
SOURCES: GlobalSecurity.org, Jane's Information Group, The Associated Press, Pentagon, British Defense Ministry, CNN, Agence France-Presse, BBC, Sky News and Army V Corps Web site.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Kofi Annan,U.N. secretary-general
"I have heard a report from the Red Cross that the people in Basra may be facing a humanitarian disaster in that they have no water and they have no electricity. A city of that size cannot afford to go without electricity or water for long."
British Lt. Col. Ronnie McCourt
"This is not a video game where everything is clear and neat and tidy. Some enemy who feel that they want to carry on fighting will inevitably do so."
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
"Strike them until they come to the conclusion that they are not in a position to commit crimes against you and your people. God has ordered you to cut their throats."
THE IRAQI VIEW
State-run radio and TV working on positive spin
The Iraqi government's well-oiled propaganda machine has regained its footing thanks to coalition setbacks.
Iraq's state-controlled media label the conflict the "Battle of Final Reckoning." And to hear them tell it, the outcome of Armageddon has shifted decidedly in Baghdad's favor.
Eye-smarting smoke from burning oil fires may fill the skies above Baghdad. The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division may be closing in. The shock waves of exploding cruise missiles and 2,000-pound bombs may roll over the city day and night.
No matter. The message on Iraqi television is now even more muscular: The "invincible" Americans are mortal.
Source: Cox News Service
TODAY
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Tougher terrain
Troops are preparing to face a critical battle with the Republican Guard as they near Baghdad from the south. After moving rapidly through flat desert, commanders are bracing for difficult combat in urban areas, where their firepower advantage is reduced. They also anticipate more trouble toward the rear, particularly from paramilitaries.
Sources: Knight Ridder, The New York Times, The Associated Press, CNN
FORECAST
High winds, with sandstorms; chance of thunderstorms in Baghdad.
High: 84 | Low: 46
Copyright © 2003, Star-Telegram Newspaper, Inc.
