Posted on 03/24/2003 2:25:51 PM PST by JohnHuang2
US says forces advance on Baghdad, fight defenders
WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. forces have advanced more than 200 miles (320 km) into Iraqi territory and with attack helicopters have engaged an elite Republican Guard division defending Baghdad, a U.S. general said on Monday.
During a Pentagon briefing, Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, vice director for operations for the Joint Staff, said, "Coalition ground forces continue their attack towards Baghdad. We are now more than 200 miles into Iraqi territory. Forces are meeting sporadic resistance."
U.S. forces have plunged deep into Iraqi territory after crossing into the country from Kuwait and are zeroing in on the heavily defended capital Baghdad. McChrystal did not give a precise location of U.S. forces.
He said the invading force engaged elite Republican Guard Medina Division troops with attack helicopters, with one Apache helicopter going down during the engagement and the crew listed as missing.
"At this point, to my knowledge, we have not gotten in (a) direct firefight with Republican Guard forces. But they have been engaged with air forces and now with attack helicopters," he told reporters.
McChrystal described the Medina Division as "one of the best of the Republican Guard divisions, one of the most powerful of the Republican Guard divisions," and "a linchpin to the consistency of the Republican Guard defense."
He said U.S. attacks on the division in the past two days certainly have degraded its strength.
Republican Guard forces are thought to be highly loyal to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and among the best equipped and best trained elements of the Iraqi military.
In Baghdad, Iraqi television showed video of two men it said were the crew of the Apache helicopter downed after running into ground fire during a combat mission southwest of Baghdad.
The two men were seen sitting and both appeared to be in good health. They did not say anything and were not questioned on video.
During the Pentagon briefing, chief spokeswoman Victoria Clarke also said U.S. officials have received information "that the Iraqi military might equip vehicles and Iraqi soldiers to look like news media." U.S. officials also have said some elements of the Iraqi military also have been fighting in civilian garb.
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