The English translation, that appears below comes from
http://www2.iraqwar.ru/index.php?userlang=en
Jim F.
------------------------------------------
April 4, 2003, 1507hrs MSK (GMT +4 DST), Moscow -
By the morning of April 4
the situation on the US-Iraqi front showed a tendency toward
stabilization.
As the forward coalition units reach Baghdad they fulfill their primary
orders outlined by the coalition command. During the four days of the
advance elements of the US 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division have bypassed
from the east the Iraqi defenses at Karabela and, without encountering
any
resistance, advanced around 140 kilometers along the Karabela-Baghdad
highway and reached the Iraqi capital. However, the goals of this attack
will be fully achieved only when the US Marine brigades, now advancing
along
the left bank of the Tigris, reach the southeastern outskirts of Baghdad.
All indications are that the breakthrough by the 1st Brigade of the 3rd
Mechanized Infantry Division toward the Baghdad international airport,
although a significant thrust forward, did not come as a surprise to the
Iraqi command. The US units occupying the airport area did not encounter
here any significant resistance (the airport was guarded by no more than
2-3
Iraqi companies without any heavy weapons) nor did they see any
indication
that the Iraqis were even planning on defending the airport. Except for
the
line of trenches along the airport's perimeter the US troops found no
other
defensive structures. The airport was clear from all aircraft with the
exception of a few old fuselages and a passenger plane (possible
belonging
to a Jordanian airline company), which did not have time to leave the
airport before the flight restrictions were announced by the coalition
with
the beginning of the war.
Currently the coalition group of forces in the airport area number up to
4,000 troops, up to 80 tanks and about 50 artillery systems. It should be
expected that several helicopter squadrons from the 101st Airborne
Division
will be deployed here in the next several hours.
According to electronic surveillance the coalition command in Qatar order
the attacking US forces to halt on at least three occasions. The command
ordered additional reconnaissance to be done in the airport area fearing
there may carefully concealed Iraqi units and extensive defenses. The
coalition command issued the final order to capture the airport only
until
the coalition reconnaissance units contacted the command headquarters
directly from the airport terminal. The Iraqi forces protecting the
airport
offered little resistance and after a few exchanges of fire withdrew
toward
the city. Communication was lost with one of the coalition units
protecting
the flanks of the advancing column. It is still being determined whether
this unit got lost or if it encountered an ambush.
Around 0800hrs the US positions [in the airport area] were attacked by
the
militia forces probably from among the local population. The militia was
dispersed by tank and APC fire.
The 2nd brigade of the [3rd Mechanized Infantry] Division reached the
southern outskirts of Baghdad and is currently located near the
intersection
of the Baghdad-Amman and Baghdad-Karabela highways.
The coalition claims of "completely destroying" the "Media" ("Al Madina
al
Munavvara") and the "Hammurali" Republican Guard divisions of the 2nd
Republican Guard Corps received no confirmation. No more than 80
destroyed
Iraqi armored vehicles were found along the coalition's route of advance,
which corresponds to about 20% of a single standard Iraqi Republican
Guard
division.
It has been determined that only a few forward elements of the
"Hammurali"
Division participated in combat while the entire division withdrew toward
Baghdad. A single brigade of the "Medina" division was involved in
combat.
The brigade was split in two groups during fighting and withdrew toward
Baghdad and toward Karabela to join the main forces of the ["Medina"]
division.
Equally unimpressive are the numbers of the Iraqis captured by the
coalition. In four days of advance the US troops captured just over 1,000
people only half of whom, according to the reports by the US field
commander, can be considered regular troops of the Iraqi army. There are
virtually no abandoned or captured Iraqi combat vehicles. All of this
indicates that so far there has been no breakthrough for the coalition;
Iraqi troops are not demoralized and the Iraqi command is still in
control
of its forces.
No significant changes occurred at other Iraqi resistance areas.
Fighting is continuing at An-Nasiriya where the US troops are still
unable
to capture the part of the town on the left side of the river. Despite of
the announcement by the US command about the "near complete control of
the
city", exchanges of fire are continuing and just during the last day the
US
forces sustained one killed and no fewer than three wounded. The US
troops
are no longer trying to storm the areas [of An-Nasiriya] held by the
elements of the Iraqi 11th Infantry Division, but instead use artillery
and
aviation to methodically destroy these areas.
The coalition was also unable to take the city of An-Najaf. The
designated
brigade of the 101st Airborne Division was able to take control only of
the
southern outskirts of the city and now has halted its advance using
artillery and aviation to destroy the city blocks occupied by the Iraqi
defenders. Intercepted radio communications indicate at least three
killed
or wounded US troops.
The Iraqis remain in control of Al-Hillah on the left side of the river.
There are continuing exchanges of fire and the city is under a constant
artillery barrage.
Nearly all fighting has stopped near Karabela, where the US forces limit
their action to blockading the city and launching artillery attacks
against
Karabela's outskirts. The available US forces in this region are only
sufficient for the blockade and for now no reinforcements can be
expected.
The 4th Infantry Division, currently unloading in Kuwait, will be able to
move into Iraq no sooner than April 6. Additionally, the "newest" and the
most modern division is actually only a partially-deployed force and
numbers
up to 12,000 troops - only about half the size of the 3rd Infantry
Division
already fighting in Iraq.
A tense situation remains near the town of An-Divania. According to radio
surveillance, the coalition forces were forced out of the town and thrown
back 3-5 kilometers as the result of a three-hour-long firefight. The US
field commanders reported 2 lost tanks and up to 5 lost APCs. Some 7
[coalition] soldiers were killed, 4 are missing and up to 20 were
wounded.
During the past 24 hours coalition medevac helicopters flew more than ten
missions to this area. As an emergency measure a 101st Airborne
Division's
battalion is currently being deployed to An-Divania. The town is under
artillery and aircraft attacks.
With much difficulty the British marine infantry is advancing near Basra.
However, despite their best efforts the British are only able to attack
the
outer defensive perimeter stretching along the Shatt-al-Basra canal. By
today's morning the British were finally able to take control of the
bridge
on the As-Zubair - Basra highway and to establish positions of the
opposite
side of the river. During the fighting one British tank was hit, one APC
was
destroyed and up to 10 soldiers were killed or wounded. Now the British
are
facing Basra's main defense lines located 1.5 kilometers ahead of them.
The Iraqis still control a portion of the Fao peninsula. Today the Iraqi
artillery attacked the Al-Fao port. No casualty figures are currently
available.
Radio surveillance reveals Iraqi resistance units fighting on the
territories occupied by the British. A Kuwaiti radio source reported an
attack last night resulting in a fire on one of the oil wells where the
previous fire was just recently extinguished. Coalition troops deployed
in
Umm-Qasr come under regular automatic weapons fire during the night
hours.
Radio surveillance indicates that yesterday coalition troops conducted a
massive operation in the town to find the resistance members.
In the north of Iraq the Kurdish units have stopped their advance after
encountering resistance by the Iraqi troops. Kurdish field commanders
told
the US officers they will not go forward unless the Americans "clear the
way" for them. There is information pointing to certain financial
motives
behind this attitude of the Kurdish commanders. The US Brig. Gen. Osman,
who
commands the US troops in this area, told one of the Pentagon officials
during a phone conversation: "for them [the Kurds] to move forward we
literally have to throw a stack of dollars in front of them!"
At the same time the "Patriotic Union of Kurdistan" leaders are trying to
distance themselves from these [Kurdish] field commanders, calling them
"uncontrollable borderline gangs" According to them [the Kurdish leaders]
these rogue units number no more than 3000 fighters.
Information coming from Qatar indicates that the coalition command is
seriously concerned with the possibility of another sand storm. Not only
will this delay the blockade of Baghdad, but it will also leave the
coalition without its major advantage - the aviation, without which the
coalition will be left one on one with a numerically superior enemy.
(source: iraqwar.ru, 04-04-03, translated by Venik)
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