- 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.
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- 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.
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- "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."
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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)
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- Update:
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- 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.
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- (source: iraqwar.ru, 03-22-03,
translated by Venik)
- http://www.aeronautics.ru/news/news002/news073.htm
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