March 27, 2003, 2321hrs MSK (GMT +3), Moscow (UPDATE) - Intercepted radio communications indicate that tomorrow
we should expect a powerful attack by the coalition. During
all day today the coalition troops were being reinforced
and fully resupplied with fuel and ammunition. Additional
units reserved for maintaining security along the Kuwaiti
border were moved today to the front lines. The total number
of additional [coalition] forces to enter Iraq numbers
up to five battalions and around 800 combat vehicles.
By 1600hrs today the sand storm in Iraq has subsided allowing
coalition to resume helicopter support of ground troops.
At the same time the Iraqi positions were attacked by bombers
and ground attack aircraft, which forced the Iraqis to
cease their attacks and to resume defensive operations.
Available information suggests that the coalition command,
despite the extreme exhaustion of its troops, will attempt
to use elements of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division
to actively contain the Iraqi forces around Karabela and
to reach the strategic Al-Falludja highway by moving from
the west around the Razzaza lake, thus cutting off the
way to Jordan. It is expected that by noon of March 29
the main coalition forces will reach this area.
During the night from March 29 to March 30 elements of
the US 82nd Airborne Division aided by the Army Special
Operations units may attempt to capture the Saddam Hussein
Airport. Immediately following the capture of the airport
the coalition plans to use it for the deployment of a brigade
from the 101st Airborne Division, which will be responsible
for holding the airport until the arrival of the main forces.
Commanders of the reinforced Marine brigade trying to
take An-Nasiriya for the fourth day have received strict
orders to suppress the Iraqi defenses and to take the town
during the next day, after which to continue their advance
toward Al-Kut and Al-Ammara. Similarly strict orders were
received by the command of the brigade attacking An-Najaf.
They will have to take this town, widen the staging area
on the left bank of the Euphrates and push the Iraqis away
from the town. By the morning of March 29 both these brigades
are supposed join up southwest of Al-Kut, where they will
be reinforced by the elements of the 101st Airborne Division
and, after forming a southern attack line, they would blockade
Baghdad from the south.
The British command has been ordered to completely take
over the Fao peninsula, complete the blockade of Basra
from the south and to completely take over the [Basra]
airport area. After that the British are to advance toward
Basra from the south along the Al-Arab river.
Based on this information to say that tomorrow we should
expect heated combat would be an understatement.
(source: iraqwar.ru, 03-27-03, translated by Venik)
