The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
383.
On 5 April,
Mr Hoon was informed of the plans to enter Basra. He was
also
informed
that the issue of UK forces moving north from the original area
of
operations
could arise “in the near future”.
384.
Mr Johnson
sent a summary of the plan for 1 (UK) Div to enter Basra to
Mr Hoon’s
385.
Mr Johnson
reported that the “planned window for entry into Basra opens
on
Monday 7
April”; and that the plan was split into three phases:
•
Phase 1
intended to establish “a degree of control in az-Zubayr which
is
sufficiently
firm to allow 7 Armd Bde units to be released for operations
in
Basra”, was
already under way.
•
Phase 2
would “involve a shift of forces from ‘consolidation’ tasks to
operations
in Basra,
and subsequent expansion as required” in addition to the tasks
of
Phase 1.
The plan had also called for elements of 3 Commando Brigade
to
replace 7
Armoured Brigade in az-Zubayr, enabled by the replacement
of
3 Commando
Brigade in Umm Qasr by the (UK) 102 Logistics Brigade.
•
Phase 3 of
the plan, entry into Basra, required 3 Commando Brigade
and
7 Armoured
Brigade to attack Iraqi forces, secure key water infrastructure,
and
take
opportunities to seize Basra Palace and any Governorate buildings.
16 Air
Assault
Brigade would control Highway 6 and distract Iraqi forces by
conducting
“aggressive
patrolling” north of Basra. It would also provide a reserve
force.
386.
Mr Johnson
wrote that Phase 3 would take place only when a number
of
preconditions
had been met, including:
•
az-Zubayr
was firmly under control and passed to 3 Commando
Brigade;
•
there was
stability in the 3 Commando Brigade AO, with the area south
of
Basra isolated;
•
stability
existed in the 16 Air Assault Brigade AO, north of
Basra;
•
Highway 6 was
capable of being controlled by 16 Air Assault Brigade;
and
•
authority
was granted by the Coalition Forces Land Component
Commander
(Lt Gen
McKiernan).
387.
When the
conditions were right, 3 Commando Brigade and 7 Armoured
Brigade
would
“attack to secure areas of Basra, supported by air and artillery
strikes”; 16 Air
Assault
Brigade would provide a reserve infantry battlegroup for the
operation.
236
Minute
Johnson to PS/SofS [MOD], 5 April 2003, ‘1 (UK) Division Plan for
entry into Basrah’.
68