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Republican guard to block advance { April 2 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15070-2003Apr2.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15070-2003Apr2.html Republican Guard Seek to Block U.S. Near Baghdad Reuters Wednesday, April 2, 2003; 9:23 PM SOUTH OF BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Units of Iraq's elite Republican Guard headed south from Baghdad on Thursday to try to cut off a U.S. advance and to reinforce positions around the capital's airport, U.S. military sources said. U.S. spy planes spotted the Iraqi reinforcements moving southwards from the capital during the night, the sources told Reuters correspondent Luke Baker. "They believe that the Iraqis are trying to reinforce positions around the airport and to block off any U.S. advance toward the capital," he said. It was unclear how many Iraqi troops were on the move. Baker said that 12 U.S. rockets lit up the night sky shortly before dawn, streaking toward the Republican Guard positions. The Iraqis were believed to be from the Hammurabi Mechanised Division. The Republican Guard consists of six divisions, each of which has about 10,000 men. Keeping control of the airport is probably a key objective for the Iraqis, who also want to prevent more U.S. troops from crossing bridges across the Euphrates river that control the approaches to Baghdad, the sources said. Baker said that U.S. forces, who have approached to within about 19 miles from the southern edge of the city, were firing rockets north at the Iraqi positions before dawn. Some of the U.S. troops have secured positions on the eastern side of the Euphrates. U.S. forces smashed two of President Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard divisions blocking their way to the capital on Wednesday in a push to Baghdad. Backed by fearsome air power, U.S. armored forces moved on the Iraqi capital from two directions. U.S. forces also seized a dam over the Euphrates River northwest of Baghdad. Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, vice director for operations for the U.S. military's Joint Staff, said two Republican Guard divisions that had been guarding the approaches to Baghdad had effectively ceased to exist as credible military forces after days of pulverizing air strikes preceding the ground attack. © 2003 Reuters

baghdad-push-apr-5 outskirts-baghad 1400 iraqis killed Baghdad airport heavy fighting { April 4 2003 } Baghdad fall days away Britain blames baghdad blackout { April 4 2003 } Can remove chemical suits Capt.1049740793.topix_iraq_us_war_ans101 [jpg] Carpet bombing karbala Eyewitness battle baghdad { April 8 2003 } Heatwave challenge facing troops { April 1 2003 } Huge explosions baghdad power out { April 3 2003 } Iraqi tv radio off air { April 8 2003 } Lights out special forces go in { April 4 2003 } Not taken any iraqi town Power off baghdad { April 3 2003 } Power out can disrupt water sewage disease Push within 19 miles { April 2 2003 } Republican guard destroyed near baghdad Republican guard to block advance { April 2 2003 } Significant republican guard Thrust into central baghdad { April 7 2003 } Us forces take baghdad airport Files Listed: 21

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