irak-truth
02.04.03, 21:31
Exceptionally difficult and unstable situation has developed on the US-Iraqi
front by the morning of April 2. The coalition troops are persistently trying
to take control of the strategic "triangle" Karabela - Al-Khindiya - Al-
Iskanderiya. At the same time the coalition units are continuing their
advance toward Al-Kut and An-nu-Manyah, but so far the US forces were unable
to take any of these towns. To move forward the US units are forced to leave
behind large numbers of troops needed to blockade the towns remaining under
Iraqi control. The An-Najaf and An-Nasiriya garrisons are still involved in
active combat deep behind the coalition forward lines.
The coalition command had to deploy two brigades from the 101st Airborne
Division to blockade and to storm An-Najaf and An-Nasiriya. These two
brigades will replace elements of the US 1st Marine Division (the 15th Marine
Expeditionary Unit under the command of Col. John Waldhauser) that has been
fighting in this area for the past six days. These "heavy" attack brigades
are currently being deployed to the area of intense fighting near Al-Hillah.
Rough estimates show that the territory "captured" by the coalition forces
still contains at least 30,000 Iraqi regular troops and militia engaged in
active combat. Military experts are already warning the US command about the
danger of underestimating the enemy: doing so may seriously complicate the
situation of the attacking forces and foil the coalition's very optimistic
plans.
On the other hand, the Iraqi command is being forced to withdraw its troops
under the protection of towns. Iraqis are also forced to minimize all active
combat operations outside the city limits as the desert terrain maximizes the
enemy's advantage in aviation and its technological superiority in
reconnaissance and targeting systems. This robs the Iraqis of their mobility
and forces them to resort to "fortress-like" type of warfare, which, clearly,
is significantly reducing their combat effectiveness.
Near Karabela the command of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division has
completely abandoned its plans to storm the town. After blocking Karabela on
three sides the 3rd Infantry Division directed its main thrust toward the
towns of Al-Musaib and Al-Khindiya. Heavy combat is continuing in this area
for the second day. The US is continuously escalating the intensity of its
attacks and is using nearly all artillery and tank units available to the
strike group's command. Nevertheless, the coalition forces are still unable
to penetrate the Iraqi defenses. The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division
Major General Buford Blount is reporting fierce Iraqi resistance. According
to the General, elements of the 2nd Iraqi Republican Guard "Medina" Division
that are defending these positions maintain high combat potential and are
repelling all attempts to break through their lines. During the past day and
today's early morning the [coalition] field commanders have reported the loss
of up to 5 tanks, 7-10 APCs and IFVs and no less than 9 killed. At least one
helicopter was hit and made an emergency landing. Two more helicopters
reported taking serious damage and their situation so far is unknown. Iraqi
losses [near Karabela], based on the US reports from the battlefield, include
at least 300 killed and up to 30 destroyed tanks and APCs. In the morning the
coalition forces have ceased the attack and now the Iraqi positions are being
engaged by aviation. The next [coalition] attack is anticipated during the
night.
Heavy fighting is continuing in the town of Al-Hillah. Despite strong
aviation and artillery support the US Marine units are still unable to
strengthen their positions on the left bank of the Euphrates and to push the
Iraqi forces out of the town. During the past 24 hours the US Marines in Al-
Hillah lost up to 5 armored vehicles; at least 10 soldiers were killed or
wounded. According to the reports by the US commanders, the Iraqi losses
during this time amount to at least 100 killed; 10 reinforced strongholds
inside the town have been destroyed; there are reports of 80 Iraqis captured
during a cleanup operation in the occupied part of the town.
A crisis situation has developed in the area of Al-Divania. Having
encountered no initial Iraqi opposition elements of the US Marine 2nd
Expeditionary Unit begun advancing toward the town but were met with heavy
artillery and mortar fire and were forced to assume defensive positions
resorting to close combat. The exchange of fire continued for nearly seven
hours resulting in up to 12 destroyed US tanks and APCs and up to 20 killed
or wounded Marines. Currently the Iraqi positions are being attacked by
artillery and aviation.
Yesterday's attempts by the US troops to storm the part of An-Nasiriya on the
left bank [of the Euphrates] yielded no results. After moving behind the
Iraqi positions, while simultaneously attacking them from the front, the US
troops still were unable to break the Iraqi defenses and by morning were
forced to return to the their starting positions. The coalition losses in
this engagement, according to reports by [the US] field commanders, were 2
killed and up to 12 wounded; a [US] helicopter took a hit and made an
emergency landing in the northern part of An-Nasiriya.
Also no results came from the coalition attempts to capture An-Najaf. All US
attacks were repelled. There have been reports of 3 destroyed APCs and at
least 5 killed or wounded coalition troops.
Near Basra the British forces are still unable to tighten their blockade of
the city. During the night the Iraqis attacked British units near the village
of Shujuh and threw the British back 1.5-2 kilometers. According to the Iraqi
reports, at least 5 British soldiers were killed in this attack. The British,
on the other hand, have reported 2 missing and 4 wounded soldiers. Iraqis
have reported that a destroyed British tank and two APCs were left behind on
the battlefield.
Tactical attack units from the US 82nd Airborne Division and the 22nd SAS
Regiment, earlier deployed to northern Iraq near the town of Al-Buadj, were
destroyed and dispersed as the result of a daylong battle with the Iraqi
troops. The exact number of [coalition] losses is still being verified.
Intercepted radio communications show that the coalition troops are
retreating in small groups and have no exact information about their own
losses. Currently the remaining units are trying to reach the Kurdish-
controlled territory. It is believed that up to 30 [coalition] soldiers were
killed or captured by the Iraqis.
Military analysts believe that today and tomorrow will decide the outcome of
the attack on Baghdad that begun two days ago. If the coalition forces fail
to break the Iraqi defenses, then by the weekend the US will be forced to
curtail all attacks and to resort to positional warfare while regrouping
forces and integrating them with the fresh divisions arriving from the US and
Europe. Such a tactical pause in the war, although not a complete halt in
combat operations (the coalition command will continue trying to use
localized attacks to improve its positions), may last seven to fourteen days
and will lead to a full re-evaluation of all coalition battle plans.
