- 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 (the Main Intelligence Directorate, or GRU) reports.
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- [The following translation of the iraqwar.ru report has
been kindly provided by "Necroman". You can find the original
report in Russian as well as this translation on the iraqwar.ru site. Venik]
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- April 6, 2003, 2000hrs MSK (GMT +4 DST), Moscow - By
the morning of April 6th an uncertain and quickly changing situation has
developed. Coalition divisions are continuing to advance toward the city
outskirts. The 22nd and 15th expeditionary marine squadrons are trying
to break into the region of military airport "Rashid" from south-east.
Iraqis are holding the line along the Diyala river and currently the marines
cannot capture beach-heads on the right bank.
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- A hard situation has formed near the international airport.
The day before yesterday the Iraqi minister of propaganda claimed that
the coalition forces in this region would have been eliminated by this
morning, and the Iraqi command ordered to storm the airport. At 10am it
was attacked by 3 Republican Guards battalions enforced with militia troops.
Americans requested artillery and aviation support. The battle lasted for
almost 6 hours. After several unsuccessful attacks Iraqis managed to drive
Americans back from the second runway to the airport building. Currently
the coalition forces control the building itself and the new runway bordering
to it. During the day the foes had to increase their strengths and deploy
reinforcements. By the evening up to 2 regular Iraqi brigades and 2 thousand
militiamen were fighting for the airport. Americans had to use all available
forces of the 3rd Mechanized Division and 101st Airborne Division to repulse
the attacks. Only assault aircraft and battle helicopters made more than
300 operation flights to this region.
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- During the fight Iraqis lost up to 20 tanks, 10 APC,
about 200 men killed and up to 300 wounded. The American losses were up
to 30 men killed, about 50 wounded, at least 4 tanks, 4 APC and 1 helicopter.
But it is impossible to obtain the exact data yet. By this hour there have
been more than 20 flights for evacuation of killed and wounded coalition
soldiers and the command have requested ambulance aviation again.
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- The combat was so intense that commander of the 3rd Mechanized
Division general-major Bufford Blunt had to issue an order to organize
a false strike. Around 8am from Khan-Azad road junction an attack was organized
in order to demonstrate tank vanguards of a large subdivision advancing
toward Al-Daura from south. The group was able to reach the outskirts of
the town near the Avajridge village. After entering the village the group
was met by Republican Guards. In direct combat the group lost 2 tanks,
3 APC, 3 men killed, up to 10 wounded and, after two hours of fighting,
withdrew to the main forces. Iraqis lost 4 tanks, 2 APC and up to 30 men
killed.
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- By the evening the foes reduced their activity and were
regrouping during the last night. Americans are rapidly fortifying their
defense positions and deploying reinforcements to the airport region, increasing
their forces at Khan-Azad and Abu-Harraib. Iraqis are moving anti-armor
divisions closer to the city outskirts.
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- Despite the exchange of strikes there are no reasons
to expect any serious attempts to capture the city in the nearest future.
By numerical strength the coalition troops that have reached the city borders
do not meet even the minimal requirements for storming and heavy urban
fights. Coalition forces by Baghdad number up to 18-20 thousand men and
can be enforced with no more than 3-5 thousand men while the minimal force
necessary to capture a city like Baghdad equals from 80 to 100 thousand
soldiers.
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- According to weather forecasts, in the coming day the
weather may abruptly change to the worse. The wind is expected to intensify,
visibility may reduce to 200-300 m.
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- All the claims made by aviation commander of the coalition,
general Michael Mosley, about "Iraqi army, as an organized structure
consisting of large units, exists no longer" are contrary to fact
and, according to analytics, are probably connected with severe pressure
put on the military command by American financial groups that desperately
needed good news from the US-Iraqi front by the end of the financial week.
In fact, the Republican Guards defending Baghdad have not lost even 5%
of their numerical strength and military equipment. Most of those losses
were due to bombardments and not land combats. The total losses of Iraqi
army since the beginning of the war have not exceeded 5-8% of their defensive
potential. This means the main battles are still to be seen.
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- The situation in other sectors of the US-Iraqi front
will be summarized closer to this evening.
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- (source: iraqwar.ru, 04-06-03, translated by Necroman)
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