US troops suffer heavy losses in Baghdad fighting

Aljazeera ^ | April 6, 2003 | Dakshin Murthy

[Scoop]

Fighting raged in Iraq’s capital Baghdad on Sunday with United States-led forces meeting fierce resistance in their efforts to capture the city.

Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf said troops killed 50 US soldiers and destroyed or damaged 16 US tanks close to Baghdad airport. Troops from the Republican Guard are still tightening the noose around US troops in the area surrounding the airport, he said.

Journalists in the area reported seeing a destroyed US Abrams tank on a main highway south out of Baghdad. Iraqi officers said five US soldiers had been killed in a battle at the scene. Dozens of Iraqi civilians crowded around the journalists taken to the scene, shouting "Down, down Bush" and "Long live Saddam Hussein".

Iraqis with Kalashnikov rifles danced triumphantly over the hulk of the charred tank in the Sayadia area, a southern entrance to the capital. The journalists were taken to see the destroyed tank on the side of the highway from Baghdad to Karbala, as an Iraqi tank prepared to tow it away and stop it from obstructing traffic.

"We destroyed it with an anti-tank rocket along with the column of trucks and vehicles that was following it," Ahmed Khoder, a member of the special Republican Guard, told reporters. Khoder said the fighting took place Saturday between 6:00 and 8:00 am (0200 and 0400 GMT).

"One hour later President Saddam Hussein came to congratulate us and asked us to fight until the end," he said. Khoder, wearing civilian attire but armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and with ammunition strapped across his chest, said there were four men and one woman inside the tank. "They're all dead," Khoder said.

The Iraqi Information Minister said Baghdad was still firmly under Iraqi control, but US officials countered it claiming they could move into the capital at will.

A barrage of rockets was heard on Sunday around Baghdad, shortly after heavy artillery echoed from the city's outskirts. The explosions, accompanied by the roar of warplanes over the city centre, echoed from the west and southwest, where the US-led forces reinforced the international airport.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Baghdad hospitals were struggling to cope with the wounded and the situation in the city was becoming desperate.

"The situation is extremely problematic now in terms of clean water supply and sewage evacuation. Everybody now is operating on back-up generators as there is hardly any power any more," an ICRC spokeswoman said in Geneva.

With temperatures exceeding 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), thousands of families set out on foot and in overloaded cars to find safety in remote provinces away from the capital.

According to agencies, US troops are fighting to take control of highways leading northwest and west out of Baghdad as they tried to encircle the Iraqi capital. Colonel John Peabody, commander of the Engineer Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division said there were now about 7,000 troops at the airport -- roughly a fourfold increase on initial levels.

Earlier, a stream of US tanks and armoured vehicles moved across the Euphrates river to bolster positions around Baghdad.

US Central Command meanwhile claimed that 2,000 Iraqi troops had been killed in the offensive against Baghdad. It said his figure could include soldiers of the elite Republican Guard forces.

[tm22721]

We will see what happens in the middle east when the news finally gets out (and the shock sets in) that the US Army is in their neighborhood to stay

I hope the Arab street revolts big time giving us an excuse to invade the rest of their sorry @ss 'countries'.

BUMP

[secret garden]

I keep waiting for the Hawk to write a script for the iraqi minister of misinformation.

[Moonmad27]

Just saw that cartoon in today's Ventura Star, and thought that they should have captioned the other camera "CNN/AlJazeera".

[Enemy Of The State]

Man, I read that title and I felt a lump in my throat....Until I read the source. Where is the Crap warning turkey!

[vigilante2]

the Misinformation Instigator

[Gityergun]

If someone can post a LINK to one of those pics showing the Apache being towed through town..i would appreciate it..thanks...also, that tank is the one I suspect caught fire aft the other day as they were rolling into town. The reporter seemed to miss it but it was clear what was happening in the background. As the truck the reporter rolled on, the tank crewman ran toward another truck looking for something (water?) In any case, thanks in advance for the link..

[robjna]

al-jazeera, the news agency that larry king from cnn and martha brant from newsweek were fawning over the other day.

[KC_Conspirator]

Aljizerra is nothing but a pack of lies.

[Maigrey]

Hmmmm.
Not to be degrading, but aren't the SRG and RG suffering heavy casulties? I'd call 50 casulties for us laying seige in urban warfare "light". I'd call 1000+ casulties moderate and 10,000 heavy. I think some journalist needs to go back to elementary school.

Godspeed to those who have paid the price, and Prayers for those still fighting for freedom.

[sweetliberty]

[sweetliberty]

"Is lying a part of the Islamic/Muslim religion?"

Only if it is expedient and serves their purposes....kinda like the democRAT party.

In seriousness, yes.

[MHGinTN]

The spectacle has been on all OUR major networks. Petah Arenot must be proud. Petah Jennings cannot remian neutral. And poor Aaron Brown cannot help the vacant smile that graces his face on CNN. I sure hope that the job chosen for the Iraqi Minister of lies, once the fighting ends, is to personally go and cart off the decaying bodies of the 'victorious' Republican Guard soldiers. BTW, All JazzError is supported financially, in great measure, by the Iraqi regime.

[Cobra64]

Hey, maybe they ought to recruit Peter Jennings to be their anchor?

I wouldn't have him as an anchor on my boat.

[sweetliberty]

"Where is the Crap warning turkey!"

I think we need a "Boob of Baghdad" alert for some of these articles when they are posted.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Why are they still on the air ?

[WaterDragon]

Baghdad hospitals are "overflowing" with the wounded? Doesn't sound so victorious, does it?

[StriperSniper]

It certainly seems to be part of being an Arab I've been told by people that have lived in the middle east.

I've heard it described as the truth being what they can make you believe.

[Kenny Bunk]

Well, yes it is. To lie to an infidel is often necessary.
To honor a treaty with an infidel natiuon. Not necessary.

Says so in the Q'uran and in Arafat's speeches.

[Dr.Deth]

Iraqi troops prepare to fire another missile.

[MaggieMay]

I feel almost apologetic I know the answer to this. Jim McDermitt(D) is the 7th district congressman from Washington State. He went on a peace mission(?*&%$#@) to Iraq,we call him Baghdad Jim. I live across the lake from Seattle,where it is much more conservative. Jennifer Dunn (R)is our representative. I hope she will run against Patti Murray(D)(she is the other idiot Wahington State politician who said BinLadin is loved in the Arab world because of the infrastructure and orphanages he has built)for the Senate. It is just unbelievable that we have allowed that story about Patti Murray to die in the press. People like the Dixie Chicks,Jim McDermitt, Patti Murray and Roger Moore need to know and worry that their pro terrorist language and actions are indelibly etched in our conscience. We will never forget, and shame on us if we do.