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April 13, 2003 Doubt and Death on Drive to BaghdadBy STEVEN LEE MYERS AGHDAD, Iraq, April 10 — The sandstorm lasted two days, sapping morale and twice turning the setting sun the color of blood. Lt. Col. Steven E. Landis called the slanting and choking sands "the wrath of Allah." Supplies of water and ammunition ran low in these first days of the war as Iraqi fighters launched unexpectedly fierce attacks on troops and supply lines that now stretched nearly 300 miles to the rear. The Army's Third Infantry Division swept across the harsh, open deserts of southern Iraq in...

Near Kut, southeast of Capital (location of said division)Iraqi TV says top officials meeting right now

<p>March 29, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. air and ground forces have systematically wiped out more than a third of Saddam Hussein's fearsome Medina Division guarding a critical approach to Baghdad, officials said yesterday.</p> <p>In one dramatic raid last night, the 101st Airborne Division - in their first action of the war - blasted the Medina, an elite Republican Guard unit near Karbala, about 50 miles south of Baghdad.</p>

Brett Baier just told Shepard Smith that the Pentagon says there are massive attacks planned on the Medina Division throughout the night, including Apaches, Warthogs and heavy bombers (B-52s). 1st strike of Apaches from the 101st Airborne have returned from a "deep strike' where they destroyed abuut 20 vehicles.

<p>Statements from Iraqi prisoners of war and electronic eavesdropping on Iraqi government communications indicate that Saddam Hussein has moved chemical weapons to the Medina Division, one of three Republican Guard divisions guarding the approaches to Baghdad, Army officials have said.</p>

US and UK warplanes flew 1,400 missions to pummel Iraqi Republican Guard positions on the outskirts of Baghdad on Tuesday, as US forces continued to move north in the face of a fierce sandstorm for their first large-scale engagement: with the Republican Guard's Medina division. Military officials said some intense fighting between ground forces had already broken out between US armour and some Iraqi troops and irregulars in the 20-mile “Karbala Gap” stretch between the opposing lines. However, the bulk of the Medina's forces remained dug in near the Euphrates river. Correspondents travelling with US columns advancing on Baghdad reported...

US says forces advance on Baghdad, fight defenders WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. forces have advanced more than 200 miles (320 km) into Iraqi territory and with attack helicopters have engaged an elite Republican Guard division defending Baghdad, a U.S. general said on Monday. During a Pentagon briefing, Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, vice director for operations for the Joint Staff, said, "Coalition ground forces continue their attack towards Baghdad. We are now more than 200 miles into Iraqi territory. Forces are meeting sporadic resistance." U.S. forces have plunged deep into Iraqi territory after crossing into the country from Kuwait...

U.S. attacks Republican Guard south of Baghdad By Luke Baker and Sean Maguire SOUTHERN IRAQ, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. and British invasion forces hit Iraqi Republican Guards defending the approaches to Baghdad on Monday as a humanitarian emergency began to develop in southern Iraq. The Pentagon said U.S. forces had advanced more than 200 miles (320 km) into Iraqi territory and were beginning to confront an elite division of the Republican Guards deployed to defend the capital. Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, vice director for operations for the U.S. military's Joint Staff said: "Coalition forces have engaged Republican Guard Medina...

Bret Beier on Fox News is reporting that the Apache seen on Iraqi tv was not shot down but had mechanical problems -- which jibes with the condition of the Apache as seen on TV. Beier is also reporting that 3rd Infantry is engaging the al Medina division of the Republican Guard at Karbala. Beier said this is the first major engagement of the war

Coalition forces have begun a massive aerial bombardment of Iraqi Republican Guard units entrenched just outside Saddam Hussein’s capital, military chiefs said today. The aim is to “soften up” the Iraqi dictator’s elite troops before ground forces arrive to begin the “Battle of Baghdad". Up to 40 helicopters from the US Army’s 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment were involved in the first assault on the Republican Guard’s Medina Division, one of six stationed in and around Baghdad. Each division could have more than 10,000 men. Around 30 surface-to-surface missiles were also fired at Republican Guard command posts and their artillery, which...

By Paul Reynolds BBC News Online world affairs correspondent While media attention is on trouble spots further south, the main military engagement of this war so far is beginning to get under way south of Baghdad in fighting which will help determine if there is to be a siege of the capital. The UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said in the House of Commons that there would be "a crucial moment" when coalition forces encountered the Medina division of the Republican Guard who are defending the route to Baghdad. The Republican Guard (which has two other divisions south of...