8 | The
invasion
156.
The Royal Navy
commenced mine clearance operations and seized some
Iraqi
ships ready
to lay mines on 21 March.108
157.
On 22 March,
the MOD reported to No.10 that the Iraqi Navy had been
158.
On 23 March,
the Royal Navy began operations to clear the Khawr Abd
Allah
(KAA)
waterway of mines so that the port of Umm Qasr could be opened to
shipping.110
Opening Umm
Qasr was essential for the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid and
logistic
support for
the military campaign.
159.
The Royal Navy
also used its submarine-launched TLAM to provide “a
long-range,
precision
capability”. In December 2003, the MOD stated that a “substantial”
number of
TLAMs had
been launched from UK submarines.
160.
By 24
March, UK forces were in control of Basra Airport and
“arrayed
around” the
“outskirts” of Basra City.
161.
When and
how to enter the city in the face of a “heavy presence of
internal
security
forces” was identified as a key decision.
162.
By the early
hours of 23 March, 3 Commando Brigade had taken control
of
Umm Qasr,
and was planning to “expand influence out from al-Faw and Umm
Qasr”.111
The MOD
morning update for No.10 also stated that 7 Armoured Brigade
was
“expected
to enter Basra on D+4 [23 March]”.
163.
Mr Hoon
informed the Ad Hoc Meeting on Iraq on 23 March that:
“Iraqi
regular forces were melting away but it remained to be seen if the
Republican
Guard would
stand and fight. The emergence of militia forces who were
prepared
to fight
[because] they had nothing to lose … was a new difficulty for the
Coalition
in securing
the centres of population.” 112
164.
A report based
on the Chiefs of Staff discussion on 23 March, sent to
Sir David Manning,
stated that reconnaissance of Basra was being conducted
and:
“A decision
will then be taken whether to enter the city tonight or whether to
hold off
until tomorrow
evening.” 113
108
GlobalSecurity.org,
4 April 2003, Defence
Secretary and Chief of the Defence Staff: Press
Conference
at the
Ministry of Defence, London – 21 March 2003.
109
Briefing
[MOD], 22 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Update for the Number 10 Sitrep, 0600Z
22 March 2003’.
110
Ministry of
Defence, Operations
in Iraq: Lessons for the Future, December
2003.
111 Briefing
[MOD], 23 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Update for the Number 10 Sitrep, 0600Z
23 March 2003’.
112
Minutes, 23
March 2003, Ad Hoc Meeting on Iraq.
113
Minute
Gibbons to Manning, 23 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Update Sunday 23 March
(1100)’.
29