The Boston Herald April 04, 2003
WAR IN IRAQ; Closing in
BAGHDAD ACTION
- U.S. forces advance to within 30 km (19 miles) of southern edge of Baghdad.
- Thousands of U.S. troops now within the red zone - an imaginary line on the map where Iraqi use of weapons of mass destruction is most feared.
- U.S. hits Medina and Baghdad divisions of Republican Guard, and says the two are 'no longer credible forces.'
- Two other Iraqi Republican Guard divisions estimated at 70 percent effectiveness and two somewhat less, according to anonymous defense official .
- B-52s drop cluster bombs on Iraqi tank column guarding Baghdad; first time such bombs have been used.
CENTRAL IRAQ
- Freed POW Pfc. Jessica Lynch is flown to a military hospital in Germany.
Special forces in Nasiriyah also retrieve 11 bodies found in and around the hospital. They are believed to be Americans.
- Units with U.S. 3rd Infantry cross Euphrates north of Karbala, secure territory on east bank.
- Euphrates dam seized by U.S. troops northwest of Baghdad.
In Najaf, American commanders said Iraqi forces had taken up positions inside the Ali Mosque, one of the world's most important Shiite shrines. Brooks said American and British forces had declared holy sites as "no targets" to be fired on only in self defense.
NORTH-SOUTH-WEST
- SOUTHERN IRAQ: U.S. Marines capture key bridge on Tigris for key crossing
- NORTHERN IRAQ: U.S. planes bomb troops in Kurdish-held northern Iraq, forcing them to retreat in several areas. Turkish-registered trucks with U.S. escort head toward Iraqi front line.
- WESTERN IRAQ: British, Australian and U.S. special forces are in complete control of western Iraq.
CASUALTIES
49 Americans dead
7 captured
15 are missing
154 wounded
Sources: Pentagon briefings, UPI, Reuters, Globalsecurity.org. Graphic News-Staff graphic.
Copyright © 2003, Boston Herald Inc.
