U.S. Forces in "Extremely Heavy Contact" East of the Euphrates

The Agonist (blog) ^ | 03/31/2003 | Unattributed

[TonyInOhio]

7:58 EST US military officials reported "extremely heavy contact" on March 31 with Iraqi forces at Imam Aiyub, south of Hilla on the eastern or Baghdad side of the Euphrates River. However, most of the U.S. forces in the area between An Najaf and Kerbala appear to be still on the far western bank, including those fighting at Hindiya. U.S. units engaging Iraqi forces near Imam Aiyub include the 2nd Battalion 70th Armored Regiment and elements of the 101st Airborne Division.

[Beck_isright]

And to think, the Nimitz arrives today. Sucks to be a Republican Guard trooper today.

V

[Skooz]

I heard the same thing on the radio news. Apparently, it is an embarrassment of riches for the pilots. They have so many targets, they have a hard time deciding which ones to destroy first. The pilots say they run out of ordinance before they can hit all the targets.

I get the impression that we are enjoying a ground-attack version of the Mariana's Turkey Shoot.

[headsonpikes]

"...running out of ammo."

On top of running out of food and water, this must be quite a blow.

[Kevin Curry]

The pilots say they run out of ordinance before they can hit all the targets.

Let's hope the ratio of cardboard to steel is low.

[finnman69]

GOOD MAP THAT SHOWS HOW CLOSE TO bAGHDAD WE ARE GETTING

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_wall_det_2003.jpg

[Beck_isright]

" I get the impression that we are enjoying a ground-attack version of the Mariana's Turkey Shoot."

Me thinks you are on to something.

V

[finnman69]

another good detailed map of the area, roads, buildigns, etc

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/baghdad_tpc_1998.jpg

[carton253]

Keep it up -- you are making my day with such pithy posts!

[Thane_Banquo]

Headline should read: Iraqi forces in "very deep sh*t" east of the Euphrates.

[sphinx]

I just heard on WABC there are so many targets our troops and planes are unloading and running out of ammo.

That sounds as if we've flushed something into the open. I was no longer expecting the Iraqis to fight outside of Baghdad. Any idea which way these Iraqis are heading?

[sphinx]

To be more precise, I was no longer expecting Iraqi main force units to fight outside of Baghdad. Ongoing fedayeen harassment is another matter.

[thinktwice]

We've heard very little about A-10 involvement in Iraqi operations, but events tell me that the "Warthog" is again proving itself a superb tank buster in battle.

[aristeides]

What bridge is that? Is it over the Euphrates?

[r9etb]

From this story: Soldiers said they saw pickup trucks with children interspersed among Saddam's Fedayeen fighters in Hindiyah before the attack began in the town, according to field reports.

These filthy cowards deserve no mercy.

[aristeides]

Did they come out into the open because they are threatened with being cut off, and so had to retreat or die?

[Torie]

Bump

[Keith]

you mean the one with good old Shoe?

[LS]

That can't be Tony. DEBKA said that we had ABANDONED that line of march. (sarcasm)

[irish guard]

Let's hope all we leave behind is hair teeth and eyeballs!

[finnman69]