Posted on 03/28/2003 4:29:38 PM PST by Smogger
SOUTHWEST IRAQ (AFP) - Apache attack helicopters from the army's 101st Airborne Division and airforce planes launched a night attack on Iraqi forces near the holy Shiite city of Karbala, military officials said.
Gass said the airforce also joined the attack, but did not give details on their role.
"We worked closely with the airforce and it was a success," he said.
Gass said the crack Medina Division of Iraq (news - web sites)'s Republican Guard was known to be near Karbala, but did not say the attack was aimed specifically at its troops or armour, nor did he give details of the targets destroyed.
"We can't say what we hit but, yes, they (Medina forces) are in the area," he said.
Iraq's Medina Division, which played a leading role in the invasion of Kuwait that led to the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites), is an armoured division, reportedly with more than 200 Russian T-72 tanks.
The Apaches, with their Hellfire missile capabilities, are regarded as the best helicopters for taking out heavy armour, especially tanks.
The night assault followed an attack by F/A-18 Hornet and F-14 Tomcat fighters from the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier earlier in the day on an area between Karbala and Baghdad, officers said.
The warplanes dropped a mixture of 16 1,000-pound (450-kilo) laser-guided bombs, four satellite-guided bombs and three 1,000-pound unguided dumb bombs, on targets that included tanks, helicopters and "a building", Lieutenant Junior Grade Nicole Kratzer said. She gave no further details.
Karbala is regarded as important in the US military's advance towards Baghdad, with the 3rd Infantry Division positioned on the outskirts of the city and apparently poised to take advantage of Friday's air assault.
Officers within the 101st Aviation Brigade said the Apache pilots met some resistance on Friday night, with some aircraft taking hits, but Gass said all pilots returned to their base in southwest Iraq safely.
However two of the 20-million-dollar Apaches crashed at their forward operating base - one on take off and one as it came into land. Officers said the pilots did not sustain serious injuries although the helicopters were severely damaged.
Karbala and Najaf, about 160 kilometres southwest of Baghdad, hold massive importance for Shiites, with sacred shrines that attract thousands of pilgrims each year.
Karbala is where Imam Hussein, the Shiite martyr and grandson of the prophet Muhammad, was killed and buried in 680 AD. Hussein was killed fighting for the right to lead all Muslims and his death was the final act in the schism between Shiite and Sunni Muslims that exists to today.
Najaf, where fighting has raged throughout the week with US officials reporting 1,000 Iraqis killed, is the burial site of Hussein's father and the founder of the Shiite sect, Imam Ali, who was also Muhammad's son-in-law.
Although Shiite Muslims make up 60 percent of Iraq's population, they have been consistently persecuted under the rule of Iraqi President Saddam, who is a Sunni.
Gass said the pilots under his command had been instructed to avoid striking any religious sites.
"We are very well aware of Karbala's historical customs and the religious importance it holds for the Shiites," Gass said before the attack.
"The last thing we want to do is cause any type of damage to Karbala and the Iraqi populace."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Awesome. I get the feeling that the story of this war will not be told until it is over.
That's what the Iraqis said when the saw the Apache battle line draw up.
DEBKA RULES!!
I think he meant "cracked".
AIRBORNE!
Oh, God, you just reminded me of Airplane! I guess it was a bad night to quit smoking . . .
No kidding, these embedded guys are telling the world how nasty real battles are for the first time in living color..... It is scaring the pu$$ies in the media and as a result they think we are struggling. Instead, it would be like going to a baseball game where our side never sits down...all we do is hit line drive doubles, homers, triples and all these jags report on are the singles or the plays at second base where our guy slides in safely.....
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