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Latest from Debka on Al Qaim: Excerpted.

Aerial photos over al Qaim in northwestern Iraq have revealed a cluster of long, hangar-like structures with large steel doors some 12-14 meters high and 15-20 meters wide, the size of sheds housing heavy fire trucks. In frequent passes overhead, spy satellites and reconnaissance aircraft have picked up surface indications of the hidden presence of nuclear, chemical or biological materials. They have not ruled out al Hussein surface to surface missiles being held ready there to deliver unconventional warheads. Some of the Scuds fired against Israel in 1991 were launched here. Signs of chemical emissions have been detected in the deep canyons riddling the Al Qaim region, most of them concealed from overhead view by overhanging cliffs. More impenetrable hiding places are to be found along the Euphrates river banks, which are densely overgrown thanks to the rapids splashing down from the mountains.

Coalition forces have refrained from going straight in to Al Qaim to establish once and for all what weapons are hidden there for several reasons. Its installations are the most heavily guarded in Iraq – more even than Saddam Hussein’s own bunker fortresses in Tikrit. The brigade of especially trained, crack Special Republican Guards loyalists guarding al Qaim have proved impervious to tempting coalition offers to surrender, preferring to defend the site with their lives. The coalition command has tried limited air and ground assault, including even what is termed “unconventional warfare direct-action missions”, but until this weekend made little progress.

Unlike other parts of Iraq, where resistance quickly melted away, the defenders of al Qaim have put up a professional, tenacious and dedicated fight. Military sources told DEBKAfile that had coalition forces confronted this quality of combat in the rest of Iraq, they would still be pinned down at Nasiriya in the south after three weeks of fighting. The Iraqi defenders are making skilful use of al Qaim’s daunting topographical features which make it impassable for heavy tanks. The attacking force is therefore obliged to fight in this Tora Bora-like redoubt from canyon to canyon, hilltop to hilltop, bush to bush.

In the last 24 hours, US forces have seized the strategic intersection of Highways 11 and 13 leading into Syria, a major step towards cutting off the overland escape route of Iraqi forces and top members of Saddam’s hierarchy. However, it is not impermeable. The Euphrates River and its banks provide alternative routes for slipping across into Syria.

http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=464

Thanks! I guess we'll have to go with Debka for a while -- no one else seems to have anything on it.

AP

Brooks said U.S. troops in western Iraq now control the crossings on two highways leading into Syria after the Iraqi colonel in charge of the checkpoints surrendered.

U.S. forces were facing tough resistance around Qaim, the main town on the Syrian border. But Myers said he expected fighting to end within the next day or two. "There have been intelligence reports that the leaders ... want to surrender," he said. The unexpected stiff defense on Thursday raised speculation the town may be site for weapons on mass destruction, Brooks said. Most Iraqi surface-to-surface missiles fired in the 1991 Gulf War were launched from the area.

Please do not quote debka as a source for ANYTHING.