The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
Lead
elements of V Corps reached Karbala (60 miles south of Baghdad),
but helicopter
operations
were frustrated by bad weather.211
The US 15
MEU, which had been under UK command for the initial invasion,
was
released to
return to the US 1 MEF.212
26
March: 1 MEF
advanced towards al-Kut along two converging
routes.213
27
March: US 173rd
Airborne Brigade began deployment into northern Iraq
overnight.214
The total
of Coalition Forces in theatre reached 293,000.
Main land
forces were resupplied and consolidated their
positions.215
28
March: 173rd Airborne
Brigade took control of Erbil.216
Tempo of
air operations stepped up as weather improved, with the aim of
degrading
Republic
Guard positions around Baghdad.217
29
March: Iraqi forces
launched two missiles towards Kuwait, both of which were
shot
down by US
Patriot missiles.218
The
Coalition continued to attack Baghdad’s air defence
system. US
1 Marine Divison secures Qalat Sikar.
30
March: In Kuwait,
deployment of personnel and equipment from the US 4th
Infantry
Division
was prioritised.219
Republican
Guard formations in Baghdad re-positioned, and
were
believed to be establishing a second line of defence.
Air attacks
on Republican Guard divisions and other preparations for a ground
offensive
towards
Baghdad continued.220
31
March: US forces
attacked paramilitary forces and were in contact with
Republican
Guard
forces south of Baghdad.221
Air
operations focused on Republican Guard ground forces, regime
command and control
elements
and communications sites.222
1
April: A total of 19
missiles were “fired south from Iraq” towards Coalition
Forces.223
US 1
MEF commenced an attack on the Baghdad Republican Guard
Division
around al‑Kut.
211
Briefing
[MOD], 25 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Update for the Number 10 Sitrep – As
at 1700Z 25 March 2003’.
212
Letter
Watkins to Rycroft, 25 March 2003, ‘Prime Minister’s visit to
Washington. Iraq: Review of the
Military
Situation’.
213
Minute
Cannon to Prime Minister, 26 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Military
Developments’.
214
Minute
Watkins to DG Op Pol, 27 March 2003, ‘Iraq: VTC with Camp David: 27
March 2003’.
215
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Manning, 27 March 2003, ‘Iraq:
COBR Round Up of Key
Events –
27 March’.
216
Minutes, 28
March 2003, Chiefs of Staff meeting.
217
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official], 28 March 2003, ‘Iraq: COBR Round
Up of Key Events –
28 March’.
218
Briefing
[MOD], 29 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Update for the Number 10 Sitrep – As
at 1630Z 29 March 2003’.
219
Minute
Gibbons to Manning, 30 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Update – Noon Sunday 30
March’.
220
Minute Dodd
to Manning, 30 March 2003, ‘Iraq: COBR Round Up of Key Events – 30
March’.
221
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Manning, 31 March 2003, ‘Iraq
COBR Overnight Sitrep
31 March
– 1 April’.
222
Briefing
[MOD], 31 March 2003, ‘Annex to Evening Sitrep: 31 Mar:
Military’.
223
Briefing
[MOD], 1 April 2003, ‘Annex to Evening Sitrep’.
66