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US forces cross Tigris, close in on Baghdad
Near Karbala, Apr 02: Closing to within 65 kms of Baghdad, US forces seized a bridge over the Tigris river and swept past battered Republican Guard units today. One of the key guard divisions, defending the city of kut, `has been destroyed,` a US general said.
Near Karbala, Apr 02: Closing to within 65 kms of Baghdad, US forces seized a bridge over the Tigris river and swept past battered Republican Guard units today. One of the key guard divisions, defending the city of kut, "has been destroyed," a US general said.
Farther south, US commanders said that Iraqi soldiers were shooting from inside a revered mosque in Najaf and that American soldiers withheld return fire.
The US Army's 3rd Infantry Division and the US 1st Marine Expeditionary Force launched a two-pronged attack toward Baghdad, and both reported breakthroughs as units entered the so-called "red zone" within range of the guns and missiles defending the capital.
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein issued a new statement declaring that "victory is at hand" and urging Iraqis to defend their towns, according to a broadcast Wednesday on Iraqi satellite television. Saddam did not appear in person, and there was no way to verify if any of the statements actually came from the Iraqi leader. Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf called reports of a US breakthrough near Baghdad "illusions". As for the Tigris river crossing, he replied: "we welcome them, but this is not true."
Al-Sahhaf also told reporters today that Americans were bent on destroying Shiite shrines in Najaf and Karbala by flying low over them, causing vibrations.
Bombs continued to rain on Baghdad, with telephone exchanges among the targets hit today. Intermittent explosions could be heard at night on the outskirts of the city.
US 3rd Infantry units surged past the strategic city of Karbala, targeting an estimated 2,000 paramilitary fighters.
Karbala, which sits on the main approach to Baghdad from the southwest, was encircled and hit by night-long bombardment from US artillery and warplanes.
To the east, US Marines moved to within 65 kms of Baghdad after capturing an important bridge over the Tigris river near Kut. US Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks said the Baghdad Division, defending Kut, was destroyed. An Iraqi military statement read on Iraqi satellite television, denied that the Division was destroyed, saying it remained ready to fight.
"What we're seeing is a multipronged approach," said Lt. Mark Kitchens, a US Central Command spokesman. "The noose is quickly tightening around the neck of this regime."
US Marines driving into Numaniyah, west of Kut, watched a man swap his Iraqi army uniform for a brown robe. They quickly arrested him. The side of the road was littered with military uniforms.
In Central Iraq, between Diwaniyah and Kut, thousands of US Marines took a route so recently secured that at one spot, the bodies of four dead Iraqi soldiers lay around a vehicle that still had its engine running. For the first time in a week, the troops passed through populated towns. People smiled, waved and sold Iraqi-brand cigarettes to the Marines.
In northern Iraq, Baghdad's forces shelled a village in the south of the Kurdish autonomous region today, and fighter jets of the US-led coalition streaked overhead targeting Iraqi positions 160 kms north of Baghdad.
US soldiers on the front lines and relatives in the US rejoiced over the rescue of US PFC Jessica Lynch from captivity at an Iraqi hospital used as a military command post.
Bureau Report
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein issued a new statement declaring that "victory is at hand" and urging Iraqis to defend their towns, according to a broadcast Wednesday on Iraqi satellite television. Saddam did not appear in person, and there was no way to verify if any of the statements actually came from the Iraqi leader. Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf called reports of a US breakthrough near Baghdad "illusions". As for the Tigris river crossing, he replied: "we welcome them, but this is not true."
Al-Sahhaf also told reporters today that Americans were bent on destroying Shiite shrines in Najaf and Karbala by flying low over them, causing vibrations.
Bombs continued to rain on Baghdad, with telephone exchanges among the targets hit today. Intermittent explosions could be heard at night on the outskirts of the city.
US 3rd Infantry units surged past the strategic city of Karbala, targeting an estimated 2,000 paramilitary fighters.
Karbala, which sits on the main approach to Baghdad from the southwest, was encircled and hit by night-long bombardment from US artillery and warplanes.
To the east, US Marines moved to within 65 kms of Baghdad after capturing an important bridge over the Tigris river near Kut. US Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks said the Baghdad Division, defending Kut, was destroyed. An Iraqi military statement read on Iraqi satellite television, denied that the Division was destroyed, saying it remained ready to fight.
"What we're seeing is a multipronged approach," said Lt. Mark Kitchens, a US Central Command spokesman. "The noose is quickly tightening around the neck of this regime."
US Marines driving into Numaniyah, west of Kut, watched a man swap his Iraqi army uniform for a brown robe. They quickly arrested him. The side of the road was littered with military uniforms.
In Central Iraq, between Diwaniyah and Kut, thousands of US Marines took a route so recently secured that at one spot, the bodies of four dead Iraqi soldiers lay around a vehicle that still had its engine running. For the first time in a week, the troops passed through populated towns. People smiled, waved and sold Iraqi-brand cigarettes to the Marines.
In northern Iraq, Baghdad's forces shelled a village in the south of the Kurdish autonomous region today, and fighter jets of the US-led coalition streaked overhead targeting Iraqi positions 160 kms north of Baghdad.
US soldiers on the front lines and relatives in the US rejoiced over the rescue of US PFC Jessica Lynch from captivity at an Iraqi hospital used as a military command post.
Bureau Report