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Coalition Forces Destroy Tank Column; Regime Threatens to Kill Iraqis

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030331-03
Release Date: 3/31/2003 6:32:00 AM

By Gunnery Sgt. Charles Portman, U.S. Central Command Public Affairs

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar (NNS) -- British artillery and coalition aircraft destroyed a column of Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles early March 27, British Air Marshal Brian Burridge said at a press briefing.

The armored column, which contained 14 Iraqi T-55 tanks, reportedly left Basra and headed southwest toward U.K. troops.

"Having established that these forces were not trying to surrender, U.K. forces took swift and decisive action against this threat," Burridge said.

A squadron of 14 Challenger II tanks of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards led the attack. Coalition forces incurred no damage during the battle.

The confrontation marked the second night of fighting for U.K. troops near Basra. On March 25, the coalition destroyed a column of 20 armored vehicles that departed the city's southeast corridor and attempted to engage U.K. forces. Later that night, sporadic small arms fire was reported in the city, and regime paramilitaries fired mortars and artillery "at their own people," Burridge said.

"U.K. artillery responded by destroying these regime artillery and mortar positions. The Baath Party command element was also effectively targeted," he said.

"The people of Basra are starting to recognize that U.K. forces will deal decisively and on our terms with the remnants of the regime," Burridge added.

Basra is Iraq's second largest city and has a population of 1.3 million people.

U.S. Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks said Iraqi soldiers that have surrendered and returned to their homes in Basra are being forced back into military action by troops loyal to Saddam Hussein's regime.

"They were pressed back into service as best we can tell by the terroristic-behaving organizations of this regime," Brooks said.

Field commanders near Najaf, about 100 miles south of Baghdad, have sent reports back to Central Command stating Iraqi regime forces are seizing children from their homes and telling their families the males must fight or they "will all face execution," Brooks said.

The Iraqi regime's reactions to the coalition's military advances are "poor," Air Marshal Burridge said.

"There are also signs that they are finding it exceedingly difficult to maintain communication amongst themselves and thereby exercise command and control," he said.

The air marshal said U.K. Commandos and U.S. Marines have mopped up the last remnants of resistance in the south on the Al Faw Peninsula, and the Iraqi people are already starting the "process of normalization."

"The Iraqi people are getting their first taste of freedom," he said.