Battle through, around Karbala Gap likely to be 'hell of a fight'

Knight Ridder Newspapers | March 31, 2003 | Drew Brown, S. Thorne Harper and Steven Thomma

[HAL9000]

SOUTH OF KARBALA, Iraq - The first decisive battle of the war in Iraq may be coming in a place called the Karbala Gap.

After days of pounding the Medina Division of Iraq's Republican Guard with airpower and artillery, the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division is preparing to launch the war's first major ground attack against Saddam Hussein's best soldiers.

If the 3rd Infantry can punch through the Gap, a 20- to 25-mile wide sliver of land about 50 miles south of Baghdad between the Euphrates River and Lake Razzaza, that would open the southern and western approaches to the capital.

But if the 3rd Infantry can't rapidly outflank the Medina Division or push the Iraqis out of the earthen defenses, palm groves and built-up areas where they've put their tanks and artillery, U.S. forces may return to pounding the Republican Guard from the air while waiting for the U.S. Marines to the east to start their push toward Baghdad.

U.S. officials said Monday the Guard's Nebuchadnezzar Division had been moved from near Tikrit, Saddam's hometown, south to reinforce the Medina Division near Karbala.

It will fall to another U.S. division, the 101st Airborne from Fort Campbell, Ky., to leapfrog northward and block another 8,000-man Republican Guard division, the Hammurabi, from moving south to reinforce the other two or withdrawing to make a last stand in Baghdad.

The Army's 82nd Airborne Division, which was supposed to join the 3rd Infantry at Karbala, remained more than 100 miles behind, trying to secure the U.S. supply line through the town of Samawa on the Euphrates.

"A hell of a fight," said one Army commander, surveying the hours ahead.

If the Iraqis repulse an American attack by using Russian-made anti-tank missiles or chemical weapons, or by destroying the dams that contain Lake Razzaza and flooding the gap, the U.S. commander, Army Gen. Tommy Franks, may keep the pressure on while the U.S. 4th Infantry Division moves up to reinforce the 3rd.

The lead elements of the 4th Infantry, from Fort Hood, Texas, begin arriving in Kuwait on Tuesday, but it will take them 10 days or so to get into position.

American planes and helicopters have been preparing the battlefield for the 3rd Infantry near Karbala for several days. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps jets flew around-the-clock raids near the city of 300,000 Monday, including several thunderous bombing raids that could be felt 30 miles away.

U.S. pilots met a sharp increase in anti-aircraft fire but continued to increase the frequency of their strikes.

"It will almost be continuous after a couple of days," said Navy Rear Adm. John Stufflebeem, aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean Sea. "There's a lot more fighting that's going on the ground."

Senior U.S. officials said on Monday that they think the air attacks have destroyed about half of the Medina Division's fighting power, but they can't be certain until the ground attack begins.

Field commanders received final briefings on Monday as tank forces of the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team raced northward across the flat desert plains south of the city.

If U.S. forces move directly into the Gap, where the Iraqis are waiting for them, they'll face a triple threat from Russian-made anti-tank missiles than can pierce their armor, from chemical weapons and from torrents of water that could be loosed from Lake Razzaza on their western flank.

The Iraqis' Kornet laser-guided anti-tank missile is a mobile system mounted on a tripod that can be fired from two miles away. The missile can pierce the heavy armor on American M1A1 tanks.

Kornet missiles struck and disabled two M1A1 tanks a week ago in a fight near Najaf, the first time an M1 tank had ever been lost in combat. The Kornet was developed in 1994 - three years after U.S. forces faced the Iraqis in the 1991 Gulf War, and also after the cease-fire agreement of that war prohibited Iraq from acquiring such weapons.

U.S. forces also face a continued threat of chemical weapons, particularly as they draw nearer to Baghdad. U.S. forces have discovered gas masks and protective suits at many locations in Iraq, and commanders believe that if the Iraqis plan to use the weapons, the gap would be a likely place to do so because U.S. forces would find themselves in a relatively narrow corridor.

An advance through the gap also could present a unique problem. U.S. troops would have to advance along a narrow plain beside huge Lake Razzaza.

Commanders said Monday that U.S. special operations forces are guarding the lake's dams to prevent Iraqi forces from opening or destroying them to flood the gap, but the Iraqis also could attack the dams with artillery.

Avoiding the Gap by driving through the city of Karbala is not an attractive alternative.

U.S. forces believe the Iraqis have positioned several dozen tanks in or near the city, mainly vintage T-55 and T-62 models, and have as many as 5,000 militia in the city.

Moreover, attacking and securing the city would risk further inflaming anti-American sentiment because it is the site of the tomb of the Shiite Muslim leader Imam Hussein, who was killed there in the year 680. With its gilded dome and minarets, the tomb makes the city the second only to Mecca as a pilgrimage destination for Shiite Muslims.

---

(Brown and Harper are traveling with the 3rd Infantry Division in central Iraq. Thomma reported from Washington. Contributing were Knight Ridder Newspapers correspondents Sandy Bauers aboard the USS Harry S. Truman; Mark Johnson with the 82nd Airborne near Samawah, Iraq; and Patrick Peterson with the 4th Amphibian Assault Battalion near Qal at Sukkar, Iraq.)

[Stopislamnow]

Free-fire zone for fully loaded B-52's, 24 hours til there aint nothing but dust moving.

[El Gato]

Hmm, except for the fact that these reporters probably don't have a clue about the operational plans, doesn't this cross the line into revealing operational plans and information. Should we see these yahoos on the next chopper to Kuwait City and then out of the theatre from there?

[wretchard]

The key weakness of the Karbalah gap defense is that it is in front of the Euphrates river, not behind it. That's why penetrations of Euphrates to the south, at Hindiyah, would be so disturbing to the Iraqi high command. If the US were to advance on the east side of the Euphrates, all the IRG units west of the Euphrates would be doomed.

The other problem facing the Iraqi defenders is that the Euphrates vegetation belt thins out between and past the lakes. Hence, if the US could get far enough north, the Karbalah gap could be completely bypassed.

The fundamental offensive tool of Tom Franks now is the supply truck. It V Corps can establish depots far enough north, the Karbalah gap is essentially turned. One of the mysteries of this war are the persistent rumors of US forces out of Jordan. What is essential to remember is that they don't have to be combat troops. A supply line from Jordan would spell the end of the IRG.

[Brett66]

These missile's disabled the M1? Sounds like they just broke the treads.

[Cicero]

Interesting analysis.

I would guess that the problem with Jordan is that, although everyone knows we are there, the Jordanians can't afford to call too much attention to it in the Arab press.

[Mike Darancette]

If the 3rd Infantry can punch through the Gap, a 20- to 25-mile wide sliver of land about 50 miles south of Baghdad between the Euphrates River and Lake Razzaza, that would open the southern and western approaches to the Capital.

I'm confused, some of the maps the TV "experts" use show the 3rd to be West of the Euphrates some East (between the rivers).

Assuming that the action will be in the Karbala Gap (West of the river) couldn't a force coming around the lake and South toward Karbala trap the Iraqis on the wrong side of the river forcing them to maneuver or be encircled.

I imagine that the bridges over the Euphrates from Karbala upstream will be quite hot.

[LdSentinal]

I second the interesting analysis. Very informative.

[Euro-American Scum]

Free-fire zone for fully loaded B-52's, 24 hours til there aint nothing but dust moving.

Napalm in the morning. Time to get serious with these people.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Free-fire zone for fully loaded B-52's, 24 hours til there aint nothing but dust moving.

Roger that!

Add: Non-stop bombardment by FAE's and MOAB's, and strafing by AC-130's, A-10's and Apache's until not even worms are crawling around.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

'Helluva fight ahead' = we're coming in from the North.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Rumsfeld referred to some "quite innovative" aspects of Tommy Franks' war plan. Methinks the most interesting news is yet to come.

[mikegi]

The key weakness of the Karbalah gap defense is that it is in front of the Euphrates river, not behind it. That's why penetrations of Euphrates to the south, at Hindiyah, would be so disturbing to the Iraqi high command. If the US were to advance on the east side of the Euphrates, all the IRG units west of the Euphrates would be doomed.

Why is so important to go through the Karbala Gap? Take a look at this map: Baghdad Area. Where is the Karbala Gap?

We've already crossed the Euphrates between Karbala and Najaf (Rick Leventhal did a live broadcast from Al Kifl last night), took Al Hindiyah, and are advancing on Al Hillah. Why can't we simply advance up the highway from Al Hillah to Baghdad and either surround it or march in?

[Beck_isright]

Bunk. You never launch a frontal assault to take a "gap" or valley. Just remember that basic rule of warfare folks. The Iraqis know it but trapped their units in their current positions weeks ago.

V

[section9]

Good points, all, some that I believe were ignored by the reporters because they are too damn lazy to look at the map and make the proper deductions.

Third Infantry Division is split. Seventh Cav and Third Brigade are on the West Bank. Second Brigade is fighting its way up the East Bank. That's why the river crossings have been contested so violently by the Iraqis. The crossing at Hindawi was critical. The RG staff officers see the same things we see. It allows us to turn the gap, as you suggested above.

Everyone expects the 3/7 and the 3rd Brigade to go storming into the gap. I don't think Franks is that dumb. The Iraqis have had to have laid down interlocking fields of fire and killzones by now. I think Karbala Gap is where the RG's have put most of their Kornet troops (which are probably ineffective at head on or side angle-an Abrams is like a PzKW VI or VIa "King" Tiger: to kill it you have to hit it in the ass). I think Franks will take advantage of some of the terrain features that wretchard points out by way of a deceptive Western approach. I also believe that the general offensive will begin when First MEF is up past Al Kut, roughly paralell to 2nd Brigade. They want to advance up the Tigris-Euphrates valley at line abreast, imho.

BTW, I think that we're well on the way to solving the "death squad" problem. Our guys went hunting and have been using agressive tactics. Nice change. The Iraqis never thought we'd find a way to work around the problem.

Idiots.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[expatpat]

Yes , a feint from the south and then a major thrust from the WNW would be a good move, especially if coupled with a Marine thrust from the SE.

[JSteff]

And remember, we DO have an airbase there. Supposedly it is an "Air-Sea Rescue" airbase that is run jointly by the US, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Turkey... but built by us.
Right

[ApesForEvolution]

I totally agree. A couple of very, very large swaths of approach ground need to be 100% pulvarized and no advance until then.

[JSteff]

From what I read at least one was hit in the rear where the armor is weakest.

[ApesForEvolution]

West/North West is the key to the whole thing.