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March 23, 2003
www.iraqwar.ru
The IRAQWAR.RU analytical
center was created recently by a group of journalists
and military experts from Russia to provide accurate
and up-to-date news and analysis of the war against
Iraq. The following is the English translation of the
IRAQWAR.RU report based on the Russian military intelligence
reports.
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March
22, 2003, 0800hrs MSK (GMT +3), Moscow - Information
received during the last night is very contradictory.
During all day and night fighting continued around Basra,
Al-Nasiriya, and on the Faw (Fao) peninsula. Despite
of numerous reports by the American and British command
about the capture of Umm Qasr the coalition forces have
so far failed to establish full control over this small
borderline town. Exchange of fire in the city is continuing.
Elements of the [Iraqi] 45-th Infantry Brigade, which
is defending the town, are surrounded but continue to
resist and are trying to break out toward Basra.
According
to intelligence reports, at Umm Qasr American and British
forces have sustained 10 killed and around 40 wounded
soldiers and officers. Additionally, the Iraqis have
destroyed up to 8 British and US armored personnel carriers.
"Iraqi
resistance turned out to be far more determined than
we've expected," the British and US commanders are reporting.
- "They are surrounded but continue fighting even after
losing much of their heavy equipment. Often we could
only advance after completely destroying them with artillery
and aviation."
So
far there was no success in trying to clarify the reports
about the capture or surrender of the 51st Infantry Division.
According to intercepted radio communications, this division
was fighting as a part of the 3rd Army Corp (Al-Nasiriya).
It's brigades took up defensive positions along the northwestern
approaches to Basra and participated in combat since
the first day of fighting, which makes their voluntary
surrender unlikely. Analysts believe that the anglo-american
coalition reports refer to a surrender by a capture of
one of the destroyed units or to a successful operation
by their special forces.
Analysis
of the video footage of the captured Iraqis, distributed
by the coalition press-service, makes it difficult to
accept the Iraqi army's "moral breakdown" story advertised
by the Americans. Most of the captives retain their dignity
and show no fear or ingratiation characteristic of
demoralized enemy. In addition to that, Americans did
not come up with a single video recording of destroyed
or abandoned combat vehicles or any other equipment,
nor did they provide any interviews with the captured
Iraqis.
The
US forces have halted their advance into Iraq and are
now actively engaged in reconnaissance along the directions
of Al-Nasiriya, An-Najaf and Al-Ammara. However, the
main efforts of the coalition are being concentrated
around the approaches to Basra. It is expected that by
tomorrow they will build up a strike force to storm the
city. Most major events of the upcoming several days
will be unfolding in this region. Radio intercepts show
that up to 25,000 British and American troops are already
in the Basra region. The city is under a constant artillery
and aviation bombardment.
During
the past night a fuel supply convoy of the US 3rd Infantry
Division was attacked by Iraqi special forces. Up to
7 fuel trucks have been lost in the attack. Three US
soldiers were killed and nine wounded. Another three
US soldiers are considered MIA and are believed to have
been captured by the Iraqis.
As
was expected, after realizing the failure of the coup
against Hussein the US have resorted to intensive bombing
of Baghdad beginning on the evening of March 21st. Just
during that night Baghdad was attacked with 500 cruise
missiles and over 1,000 aviation bombs. The city is engulfed
by numerous fires.
Additionally,
more than 20 other Iraqi cities were also bombed. More
than 1,000 cruise missiles were launched against various
targets and over 3,000 bombs were dropped. At the moment
it is difficult to estimate the effectiveness of these
strikes. However, judging by the high activity levels
of Iraqi radio transmitters, the US was unable
to disrupt the control of the Iraqi army.
Russian
radio intercept units are certain that at least one coalition
combat plane was shot down in these air raids.
Our
sources believe that the high-intensity air strikes will
continue for another 24 hours and after that the coalition
will be forced to scale down the attacks to conduct additional
reconnaissance and to regroup its forces.
A
radio intercept made last night at approximately 4:40
am indicated that two British helicopters were shot down
by a "Strela" SAM system after flying into
a SAM trap. It is believed that the two SAR helicopters
were to retrieve
the pilot of the combat plane downed during the earlier
air strike. The number of dead and wounded is still being
established. So far the coalition command did not report
these losses. (1)
The
coalition commander Gen. Tommy Franks demanded from the
Air Force a maximum possible increase in the close air
support of the ground forces. During a "radio-bridge"
with the commanders of all units Gen. Franks expressed
his concern with the mounting casualties and the stubborn
Iraqi resistance. "We've just spent three days trying
to capture one small town, so we can only guess what
awaits us in Baghdad!" - angrily said the commander
and demanded better aviation support to soften up the
defending Iraqi forces ahead of the advancing coalition
units.
For
the past day the coalition losses ar up to 30 killed
and around 40 wounded. Ten coalition armored vehicles
were destroyed my land mines. At least two armored vehicles
were destroyed by anti-tank weapons.
Iraqi
losses are estimated in the range of 250-300 killed and
up to 500 wounded. So far it is not possible to determine
the damage from the night bombing raids. However, more
than 500 people have been taken to hospitals in Baghdad
- all of them were civilians.
Update:
While
this article was translated the US Navy has confirmed
that two British Sea Knight helicopters of the Royal
Navy have crashed killing all onboard - 6 Britons and
1 American - a US Navy officer. The helicopters crashed
at around 4:30 am. The official explanation for the loss
was that the two helicopters crashed into each other
while taking-off from a ship. It is interesting to note
that
during more than 25 years in British service there wasn't
a single collision between the Sea Knights. The Royal
Navy operates more than 300 Sea Knights and all helicopter
pilots adhere to strict sets of rules during take-offs
and landings
from ships; rules that
are designed
to help pilots to avoid
this type of collisions.
(source: iraqwar.ru,
03-22-03, translated by Venik)
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