Near Najaf, Mar 31: US forces have begun their first serious battle with Iraq's elite Republican Guard around the city of Karbala south of Baghdad, with 200 Iraqis killed, wounded or captured, US officers said today.
Fighting erupted overnight between elements of the US
Army's 3rd Infantry Division and republican guard units
southeast of Karbala, said colonel Will Grimsley, commander
of the division's first brigade.
Other officers reported 200 Iraqis killed, wounded or
captured.
Grimsley said although there had earlier been sporadic
encounters with elements of the republican guard in the area,
“this is the first serious contact.”
Reports of the battle around Karbala, a Shiite Muslim
holy city 80 kms south of Baghdad, came as US armored units
finalised plans for a decisive thrust towards the capital
within a week, commanders said.
The 20,000-strong third infantry division, the heavy
armoured force spearheading the us-led invasion, has
concentrated near the Euphrates valley town of Najaf, 150 kms
south of Baghdad.
US Apache helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division,
as well as British and US warplanes, have been softening up
the area around Karbala where the Republican Guard's armoured
Medina division was reported to be lying in wait.
Bureau Report
