April 2, 2003, 1335hrs MSK (GMT +4 DST), Moscow -
Exceptionally difficult and unstable situation has developed
on the US-Iraqi front by the morning of April 1. 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.
(source: iraqwar.ru, 04-02-03, translated by Venik)
