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| Iraq |
| UK Troops Move Up Strategic Faw Peninsula |
| 2003-03-21 |
| British are meeting little resistance as they make their way north up the strategic Faw peninsula in southern Iraq, a British military spokesman said on Friday. "Three Commando Brigade landed in force on the Al Faw peninsular, they secured the oil equipment that goes into the north Arabian Gulf," Group Captain Al Lockwood, main spokesman for British forces in Qatar, told BBC radio. "They are now progressing up the Al Faw peninsular supported by naval gunfire from Royal Naval vessels. Umm Qasr is obviously one of our key objectives and we are moving toward that," he said. "We are securing our initial objectives and continuing our progress. There has been light resistance with no U.K. casualties," he added. "We are pleased with our progress. There has been a lot of support from Royal Navy and Royal Airforce assets, and the land campaign has got off to a good start," he added. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #6 I saw video on Fox earlier from one of their reporters assigned to the marines. There were a group of soldiers with them off to one side in a line kneeling and praying as a group. I thought they were muslims assigned as translators, POW minders, etc. Maybe they are the Kuwaiti's DEBKA is talking about. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-03-21 12:32:24 |
| #5 Debka says brits are taking Basra, and US Marines bypassing and heading North, which seems consistent with what mainstream embedded reporters are saying. They say small units will take on Nasariyah, main force of 3rd Div will bypass. Also makes sense. OTOH Debka says Kuwaiti troops in Umm al qasr -to establish "Kuwaiti zone" - I dont think so. Debka also reports 1st div moving toward Kuwait along with 3rd, though all other reports have said theyre not in Kuwait yet, delays for transport, unloading facilities, whatever. Of course capture of Um al qasr could relieve port congestion at Kuwait City, which has to take troop/equipment arrivals, troop supplies,and humanitarian supplies. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-03-21 11:58:48 |
| #4 CBS says bridge over Euphrates taken. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-03-21 11:45:32 |
| #3 BBC embedded reporter Hewitt says artillery being fired at Nasiriyah. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-03-21 11:24:02 |
| #2 BBC now reports that UK chief of staff Boyce says coalition forces advancing on Basra. AP reports most Iraqi troops in south have retreated to Basra. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-03-21 11:14:15 |
| #1 BBC now reports 3rd Inf has reached Nasiriyah, on the Euphrates, encountering stiff resistance. Situation in Basra still unclear, AFAIK |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-03-21 09:59:47 |