- News>
- World
US objective to first take over Basra city
New York, Mar 18: One of the first major American objectives in the event of war against Iraq will be to seize its largest southern city, Basra, and secure its port facilities and nearby oil fields.
New York, Mar 18: One of the first major American objectives in the event of war against Iraq will be to seize its largest southern city, Basra, and secure its port
facilities and nearby oil fields.
The city is a key to Iraq's southern oil region. Not all signals suggest that it will fall easily, a media report said. Last week Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein appointed member of his inner circle, Ali Hassan al-Majid, to direct the defence of southern Iraq.
The Iraqi military command, 'New York Times' reported quoting American officials, has ordered all of its front-line divisions to pull back to defend Baghdad, leaving poorly trained and equipped garrison units to protect the port city and the oil fields that straddle the border region with Kuwait, just 65 kilometers south of Basra. American officials say they are not certain whether Hussein appointed Majid, a close relative, to ensure that the restive Shiites of southern Iraq remained loyal to Baghdad, or whether Majid has been entrusted with executing a military strategy devised to blunt or undermine the American-British invasion. "We fully recognize his image and his track record," a military official was quoted as saying.
One fear is that Hussein, by appearing to expose Basra to easy occupation, is preparing to surprise American and British forces by attacking them with chemical or biological weapons, American officials said.
The fate of Basra is viewed as critical. "The first image of this war will define the conflict," said Major Chris Hughes, a Marine Corps spokesman. Bureau Report
The Iraqi military command, 'New York Times' reported quoting American officials, has ordered all of its front-line divisions to pull back to defend Baghdad, leaving poorly trained and equipped garrison units to protect the port city and the oil fields that straddle the border region with Kuwait, just 65 kilometers south of Basra. American officials say they are not certain whether Hussein appointed Majid, a close relative, to ensure that the restive Shiites of southern Iraq remained loyal to Baghdad, or whether Majid has been entrusted with executing a military strategy devised to blunt or undermine the American-British invasion. "We fully recognize his image and his track record," a military official was quoted as saying.
One fear is that Hussein, by appearing to expose Basra to easy occupation, is preparing to surprise American and British forces by attacking them with chemical or biological weapons, American officials said.
The fate of Basra is viewed as critical. "The first image of this war will define the conflict," said Major Chris Hughes, a Marine Corps spokesman. Bureau Report