The Houston Chronicle March 27, 2003
WAR IN IRAQ: DAY 8
U.S. officials blame Iraqi paramilitary fighters, the "Fedayeen," for much of the resistance that has hampered the American-led advance through Iraq.
One Defense Department official said commanders were surprised by the Fedayeen's capability.
U.S. military commanders were making a greater effort to defeat the Fedayeen, rather than bypass them on the way to Baghdad.
. . .
FEDAYEEN: SADDAM' MARTYRS
Name: "Fedayeen Saddam" means "Saddam's men of sacrifice."
Uniform: The Fedayeen dress in black outfits and wear a black scarf or balaclava. They also operate in civilian clothes.
Weapons: AK-47 rifle.
Strength: 18,000-40,000.
Founded: 1995 by Saddam Hussein's eldest son, Uday.
Report: Directly to Presidential Palace.
Special unit: "Fidayi Saddam" known as death squadron; operates outside political and legal structures.
Recruitment: Young men from Saddam's own al-Bu Nasser tribe or other Sunni-dominated tribes around Tikrit, Saddam's hometown.
. . .
Bombing targets and areas of heavy fighting
About 1,000 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade landed in northern Iraq, where war planners hope to open a new front against supporters of Saddam Hussein.
Explosions were heard near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
Officials said "a few" Iraqi vehicles were heading south from Baghdad toward Karbala, and U.S. warplanes were attacking them.
Explosions within the heavily populated Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Shaab killed civilians.
Elements of the 7th Cavalry Regiment continued heavy fighting near An Najaf.
Warplanes attack a convoy of Iraqi armored vehicles leaving Basra under the cover of sandstorms.
First sizable relief convoy, laden with fresh water, tuna and crackers, rolls toward Umm Qasr.
GRAPHIC: Graph: 1. WAR IN IRAQ (text); Map: 2. Locations of Iraq and surrounding countries; Drawing: 3.; All by Jay Carr and B.C. Oren / Chronicle, Sources: United Nations; Associated Press; Knight Ridder Tribune; National Imagery and Mapping Agency; U.S. Army; Reuters; Federation of American Scientists; and Global Security Organization.
Copyright © 2003, The Houston Chronicle Publishing Company
