WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION FOUND IN IRAQ

Apr 3 2003




From Bob Roberts at US Central Command, Qatar


TWO divisions of the Republican Guard were devastated last night after 15,000lb Daisy Cutter bombs rained down on Iraqi forces.


With US troops in sight of the capital, the Baghdad Division was reported wiped out. The Medina Division - Iraq's best - was said to be no longer an effective force.


American troops are within 19 miles of the capital and an official said: "Our guys are able to see the skyline."


Thousands of Iraqis were reported killed in 24 hours of the fiercest fighting of the war so far. But a statement from Saddam Hussein read on Iraqi TV said: "Victory is within our reach. The criminals have used up all of the forces they brought to commit aggression against us."


US forces were within sight of Baghdad last night after a huge onslaught left the Baghdad division of Saddam's elite Republican Guard "destroyed" and the Medina division crippled.


Three of the four remaining elements of the force are at 70 per cent strength and the other is considerably weakened.


Brigadier General Vince Brooks, Deputy Controller of Operations, said of the Baghdad division: "It is no longer at combat operation as a cohesive force.


"Its leadership is broken, its equipment is destroyed. It may mean we have killed or captured a considerable number of the force."


He added: "The dagger is clearly pointing at the heart of the regime. When it is time, it will be applied.


"They are in serious trouble and they remain in contact with the most powerful force on earth."


Two 15,000lb "Daisy Cutter" bombs, which can devastate large areas, exploded over positions near Kut, occupied by the Baghdad Division's 12,000 troops east of the capital.


Near Karbala, the 10,000 strong Medina Division was heavily bombed, then infantry assaults almost finished it off.


The Nebuchadnezzar division, north of the Medina, was at 70 per cent, like the Al Nida armoured and the Adnan mechanised. South of Baghdad, the Hammurabi armoured has been significantly hit.


Nearly all of America's 200 Apache attack helicopters took to the air yesterday, blasting enemy targets. At least 50 RAF planes lent support to ground attacks.


Armoured columns moved across open desert and scrubland in what was described as a "fast-moving, all-arms battle".


US marines seized a bridge across the Tigris - a key crossing point close to Kut.


Last night, with troops 30 kilometres from Baghdad after 24 hours of fighting, the Pentagon said there would be no quick end.


Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned of "difficult and dangerous" days ahead.


Most of the ground assaults yesterday were carried out by US troops, supported by specialist UK units, including engineers and chemical warfare experts.


The 3rd Infantry Division thrust northwards after encircling the Shi'ite Muslim city of Kerbala and crossed the eastern bank of the Euphrates. In the east, forces pushing along the Tigris valley advanced to 25 miles from the Iraqi capital. Iraq described reports of a breakthrough as "illusions".


A statement on a satellite TV channel quoted Saddam as saying: "Victory is within our reach...we have used only one third of our army."


At allied Central Command in Qatar there was increasing confidence from the US and UK. But the British Commander, Air Marshal Brian Burridge, said he did not want to "give the impression that within a day or two this is going to be finished".


He added: "This is certainly the decisive engagement which we are now just beginning with the Republican Guard."


The Daisy Cutter attack was aided by B-52 bombers which used six 1,000lb cluster devices to spray armour-destroying bomblets on Iraqi columns of tanks.


After the battle, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was said to be moving up Highway Six towards Baghdad. Iraqi citizens were said to be "welcoming" advancing units.


There was continued fighting in other towns and cities. In Najaf, the US said they were attacked from inside the gold-domed Ali mosque. Coalition troops did not return fire. Helicopters and warplanes strafed Fedayeen militia in the city.


Ten British special forces' troops were believed rescued near Mosul in the north after running into large numbers of Iraqis.


Their Land Rover had been shown on Al Jazeera television. British military sources would only say: "We do not have 10 missing troops."


The Red Cross said it saw the bodies of dozens of people - some women and children - at Hilla, south of Baghdad. Iraqi officials said US helicopters had attacked a residential neighbourhood. At least 280 people were being treated in hospital at Hilla.


UK forces have unearthed five Iraqi Cruise missiles near Al Zubayr airport. They were of the Styx type, with a range of up to 125 miles.


Several U.S. warships armed with Tomahawk Cruise missiles will move into new positions in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia complained that some had strayed into its territory.


Iraqi TV showed footage of Saddam yesterday, laughing with members of his cabinet. It was unclear whether the pictures were new.


In a letter to his niece, also disclosed on TV, he said his troops "will not let them reach Baghdad... they will cripple them until they return to their countries".


UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said everyone emerges a "loser" in war. But the UN would return and work with the Iraqi people.


News of the US advance pushed the FTSE 100 index of top companies in London up 68.6 to 3753.4.