AMERICAN forces won a decisive victory during their first clash with Saddam’s Republican Guard yesterday, killing scores of the elite troops and wiping out a column of Iraqi armour. The 101st Airborne Division - nicknamed the "Screaming Eagles" - launched a devastating strike against Republican Guard tank units near the Iraqi holy city of Najaf. At least 50 Iraqi soldiers from Saddam’s ultra-loyal Medina Division were killed during the attack by Apache helicopter gunships, which destroyed 25 tanks, armoured personnel carriers and trucks. No US casualties were reported from enemy fire, although one pilot was injured in a "hard landing"...
