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| Iraq |
| Airborne brigade moves near Kirkuk in north |
| 2003-04-09 |
| Edited for length: After two weeks spent deep in Kurdish-held territory, elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, augmented by newly arrived tanks from the 1st Infantry Division, have moved south to within 20 miles of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk to stage for future operations. The first forward elements moved out of Bashur Airfield Tuesday, just hours after the first M1 Abrams tank rolled off a C-17 transport plane. The rest of the brigade, and an unspecified number of tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, is to follow. Commanders say they cannot publicly discuss their plans, but they promise that a ground attack against Iraqi forces arrayed along the line with the Kurdish region is not far off. The Special Forces briefing offered insights into what has essentially been a low-visibility, non-conventional northern front: Small numbers of highly trained American troops, backed by air strikes, have helped Kurdish peshmergas push Iraqi forces miles from their original positions. "They have just fallen back completely," said Sgt. Tom Flaherty, as he stood in front of a map studded with decals representing the locations of Special Forces teams and Iraqi units. But, he said, "They're dug in pretty good." Flaherty told 173rd officers that Iraqi Fedayeen soldiers were embedded with the forces around Kirkuk to prevent surrenders. He also cited intelligence suggesting threats from both suicide bombers and chemical weapons loaded on artillery shells. The paratroopers who moved south Tuesday, including those of Able Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry, drove several hours south in a convoy of humvees and five-ton trucks mounted with heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. Along the route's crumbling and destitute inhabited areas, Kurds stepped out from their shops and houses to cheer and wave at the passing Americans. Young children ran toward the vehicles, shouting "Hello" in English. The soldiers grinned and waved back. "This is the coolest thing we've done so far," said Sgt. Chris Charo, 24, of Saratoga, N.Y. "I wish some of these anti-war protesters could see this." They'd refuse to look |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 They've been flying in a few 1st ID tanks and Bradleys from Germany. Very quietly building up, you haven't seen any reports from up at that northern airfield, have you? Just video of Kurds and a few SF types out in the country. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-04-09 15:16:42 |
| #1 The Big Red One is moving in, too? All I've heard about so far is the 4ID? |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-04-09 14:40:41 |