At mid-afternoon on 19/3/03,
US and British aircraft attacked approximately ten Iraqi artillery batteries
which posed a threat to Coalition troops in the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border DMZ.
20/3/03
Following the expiration of
US President Bush's 48-hour ultimatum at 1am GMT 20/3/03, the CIA provided
intelligence of the movements of 5 key Iraqi leaders and President Bush
authorised strikes against these targets, one of which was believed to
be Saddam Hussein. The attacks began at 0234GMT. British Tornado GR4s were
available to support these attacks, but were not called upon this time.
The Strikes were carried out
by about 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles and F-117A stealth fighters, and Iraq
claimed civilians were wounded. Saddam Hussein appeared on TV three hours
after the attacks in a taped interview.
A few hours later, RAF aircraft
were again in action.
Iraqi army units retaliated
by firing two 'Al Samoud' missiles and about five SCUD missile into the
northern Kuwait area where Coalition troops were assembled, though these
inflicting no casualties they did cause a chemical attack scare. Kuwait
City was also subject to several chemical alerts during the day, Patriot
missile batteries bringing down two missiles, while another hit the desert
south of Kuwait CIty and one more landed in Kuwait Bay. British Harriers
and US aircraft were subsequently tasked to hunt for SCUD missile launchers.
US and coalition artillery began
firing into the Iraqi border zone just before dusk and, at 1530GMT US troops
were told to be combat ready by 1630GMT, as fires were reported in oilfields
south and west of Basra. US Marines are reported in action in the DMZ.
Turkey approved US access to
its airspace (approx 1600GMT) and Turkish parliament votes to let Turkish
troops enter Iraq.
About 1700GMT, US artillery
and rocket units fire into Iraq against forward Iraqi army units across
the DMZ. The US 3rd Infantry Division comes under return fire.
British AS90 and MLRS systems
also participate in the initial bombardment.
At just before 1800GMT on 20/03/03,
air raid sirens were sounded in Baghdad and at about 1805GMT the city's
air defenses began firing. Shortly afterwards several explosions rocked
the city, missiles landed on, or near to, several presidential palaces,
the Iraqi intelligence HQ and several other buildings.
3 Commando Brigade conducted
an amphibious and helicopter assault, led by 539 Assault Squadron, on the
Al Faw peninsula, encountering light resistance. Casualties were inflicted
on the enemy and prisoners taken. The oil infrastructure was successfully
secured to prevent Saddam Hussein from attempting to release oil as an
environmental weapon. Three RN frigates supported this landing, with naval
gunfire and helicopter support.
The 7th Parachute Regiment Royal
Horse Artillery moved on southern Iraqi oilfields to secure them against
further sabotage.
At about 2230GMT the US 3rd
Infantry Division entered Iraq from Kuwait. RN submarines launch Tomahawk
cruise missiles at targets in Iraq.
It was reported at about 2300GMT
that Saddam had ordered Iraqi air force pilots to fly suicide missions
against coalition forces or their families will face torture. Also states
that 'deserters will be executed'.
21/3/03
A US Marine Corps CH-46 Sea
Knight with US and UK personnel aboard crashed in Kuwait, 8 marines of
3 Commando died in the crash alongside four US aircrew.
Two battlegroups of the 7th
Armoured Brigade, the battlegroups of the Black Watch and 1st Battalion
of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers covered the right flank of a US regimental
combat team heading for Basra. British troops reported on the outskirts
of Basra at about 1700GMT.
Reports of Iraqi 51st Division
commander surrendering came at 2320GMT, by 0000GMT on 22/3/03 the entire
51st Division was reported to have surrendered on the approach to Basra.
In the air Coalition aircraft
including RAF assets were involved in a wide variety of operations. Tornado
GR4s attacked key facilities and Harrier GR7s provided close air support.
Other aircraft, including tankers, provided invaluable support.
US Marines entered Umm Qasr
on the 20/3/03 and cleared the new port, the old town held out until dusk
on 21/3/03, when Sir Michael Boyce confirmed the port as in coalition hands.
US and Coalition forces are
reported to have captured two airfields, H2 and H3, in western Iraq. H3
is a suspected site of WMD.
CNN crews asked to leave Baghdad,
Iraq for being 'propaganda tools'.
USAF B-52s take off from RAF
Fairford at 1010GMT on 21/3/03. Baghdad came under attack from 1710GMT,
and the attacks continued throughout the night. The Pentagon announce at
about 1730GMT that 'Shock & Awe' has begun. Kirkuk, Mosul and Tikrit
are also attacked, Saddam's presidential palace is hit by cruise missiles.
USAF, USN and RAF aircraft are all involved in the strikes. No.9 Squadron
Tornado GR4's brought ALARM missiles to bear on Iraqi air defence radars
in the first wave of this night's action. The Stormshadow was deployed
in this nights action.
US armoured drive at Nasiriya
on the Euphrates river was halted by Iraqi forces at about 1445GMT, but
by 1200GMT on 22/3/03 Nasiriyah had been taken and US forces had secured
a brigade over the river.
Two Iraqi tugs were seized by
Naval forces while trying to lay mines near Umm Qasr.
At about 2345GMT 1,500 Turkish
troops were reported to have entered northern Iraq, against US requests
not to.
22/3/03
Two RN Sea King Mk 7 AEW
Helicopters collide over the North Arabian, killing all seven crew onboard.
With Umm Qasr secured, RN
minesweepers began clearing the waterway to the port. RFA Sir Galahad is
waiting to offload humanitarian supplies.
Nasiriyah is reported as
having fallen to the US 3rd Infantry Division and has secured a brigade
over the Euphrates river. Four US soldiers were killed in an Iraqi ambush
of two humvees scouting ahead of the US 3rd Infantry division as the column
advances into Central Iraq.
An Australian journalist
and 1 other person are killed by a car bomb in northern Iraq, and an ITN
news crew goes missing near Basra.
Baghdad comes under renewed
bombardment, including the first daylight air strikes. Iraqi soldiers fire
oil-field trenches in a bid to obscure the city from allied bombardment.
23/3/03
A US soldier throws a grenade
into the command tent of the 101st Airborne camp in Kuwait, killing 1 and
wounding 15 others. Soldier was arrested.
Tikit hit in overnight raids.
Iraq claims to have shot down
five allied aircraft. Denied by USAF.
Iraq captured four US personnel
at Nassiriyah (four men and 1 woman) and showed them on tv breaching the
geneva convention, then claimed they would uphold the convention.
Four bodies also shown in a
morgue, with head wounds, which pentagon says are execution style.
4 1/2 hour gun battle in Umm
Qasr between marines and holed up Iraqis, tanks, mortars and air-support
involved.
US 3rd Infantry Division passes
Najaf, heavy fighting at river crossing.
US Army 5 Corps and Iraqi forces
battle at Nasiriyah.
Possible air crew bailed out
over baghdad.
Missing RAF aircraft believed
shot down over N.Kuwait border by US Patriot border
B-52s in action again.
Basra under coalition control
- Pentagon.
24/3/03
US forces advanced beyond An
Nasiriyah, while aviation forces attacked Republican Guard formations near
Baghdad; one US helicopter was lost. Mine clearance operations in the southern
waterways made good progress, with half the route to Umm Qasr made safe.
Logistic preparations continued to allow the shipping of humanitarian supplies
once the route was cleared. Basra airport was secured.
Two British soldiers were reported
missing after an attack on UK military vehicles in southern Iraq. In a
separate incident, a British soldier was killed in action at Al Zubayr,
near Basra. The next of kin of all three have been informed.
Iraqi TV shows US Longbow apache
grounded in Iraq, claims to have the crew.
Two UK servicemen missing after
ambush in southern Iraq.
Reported Chemical warfare factory
found near Najaf, unclear.
Syrian bus destroyed by missile,
some dead and injured civilians.
Kuwaiti firefighters extinguish
first oil-well blaze in Iraq.
Continued fighting in all areas,
US 15 MEU leave Umm Qasr and is replaced by 42 Commando.
British soldier Killed in Action
in southern Iraq.
25/3/03
Sandstorms hit advanced allied
units.
British soldiers KIA in southern
Iraq.
USAF F-16 bombs Allied patriot
battery after been locked on by the radar, no casualties.
Popular uprising reported in
basra, iraq units said to be attacking protestors.
British troops conducted effective
raids against paramilitary forces in the Basra area. US forces fought significant
engagements near An Najaf and An Nasiriyah. The Ba'ath Party headquarters
in As Samawah was destroyed. Iraqi tanks advancing out of Basra were engaged
and destroyed.
Command and control targets
in Baghdad were attacked.
Engineering work to construct
a fresh water pipeline from Kuwait into southern Iraq continued.
26-27/3/03
Two mines were discovered at
sea close to the swept channel leading to Umm Qasr: the arrival of the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Sir Galahad, carrying humanitarian supplies, was
delayed to allow that part of the swept channel to be checked by RN and
USN minehunters.
US airborne forces landed in
northern Iraq.
A squadron of the Royal Scots
Dragoon Guards eliminated an Iraqi tank unit and infantry positions near
Basra without suffering any losses.
27-28/3/03
US forces defeated further paramilitary
counter-attacks north of An Najaf.
Following further mine clearance
operations, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Sir Galahad safely arrived in Umm
Qasr, delivering a major consignment of humanitarian aid.
A soldier from D Squadron, The
Blues & Royals, was killed in an incident in southern Iraq.
28-29/3/03
A missile hits a shopping mall
in Kuwait city.
A British raiding party attacks
Basra, troops and vehicles of the Black Watch pushed into the city and
destroyed a television mast and two statues of Saddam Hussain
Ba'ath Party headquarters in
nine locations were attacked by Coalition air and ground forces. British
forces moved to interdict northern routes into Basrah. The major oil refinery
at Basrah was secured.
US helicopters attacked the
Republican Guard Medina division near Karbala.
US airborne forces landed in
northern Iraq.
29-30/3/03
4 US troops killed by a suicide
car bomb, driven by an Iraqi army NCO.
The first British dead return
to Brize Norton.
British troops capture an Iraqi
general.
Royal marines discover chemical
suits in raids on Iraqi forces in Basra, Operation James.
Coalition aircraft attacked
air defence, command and control, and intelligence facilities in the Baghdad
area.
3 Commando Brigade launched
an offensive near Basrah which secured Abu al Khasib. A Royal Marine was
killed in action on the Al Faw peninsula, and a Royal Signals NCO died
in a road traffic accident in Kuwait.
A fresh-water pipeline from
Kuwait to Umm Qasr was completed, delivering 625,000 gallons of water per
day.
30-31/3/03
US forces captured a major Iraqi
ammunition depot in central Iraq near Tallil. Other Coalition forces secured
additional bridges across the Euphrates and launched offensives to isolate
Iraqi forces holding out in the An Nasiriyah and As Samawah areas. V Corps
bombarded the Republican Guard Medina Division.
A British soldier was killed
during an explosive ordnance disposal operation in southern Iraq.
31/3-1/4/03
The US 173rd Airborne Brigade
completed its deployment in northern Iraq. Air attacks continued on the
Republican Guard divisions around Baghdad and Tikrit. V Corps mounted simultaneous
attacks at Al Hillah, Karbala and As Samawah.
Attacks on Ba'ath Party headquarters
continued, some assisted by the local population. The Black Watch battle
group rescued two Kenyan civilians who had been taken prisoner by Iraqi
forces at Al Zubayr. British forces also destroyed an armoured force north
of Basrah.
A British soldier died in an
accident involving a light armoured vehicle, another was injured and later
died in hospital in Edinburgh.
1-2/4/03
US troops rescued a female soldier
held prisoner by the Iraqis. US Marines captured at Al Hillah two of the
Al Samoud II missiles which contravened UN resolutions.
Representatives of the International
Committee of the Red Cross visited Iraqi prisoners of war held by Coalition
forces in southern Iraq to confirm that their treatment was in accordance
with the Geneva Convention.
Iraqi forces were reported to
be firing on Coalition forces from the sacred Ali Mosque at An Najaf.
2-3/4/03
The US V Corps destroyed the
Medina Division of the Republican Guard close to Baghdad. 101st Air Assault
Division continued operations at An Najaf, while the 82nd Airborne Division
struck Iraqi forces at As Samawah.
An FA-18C was shot down, and
a UH-60 helicopter crashed in central Iraq.
2-3/4/03
The US V Corps drove back the
Medina Division of the Republican Guard close to Baghdad and secured another
crossing over the Euphrates. US forces positioned themselves on the outskirts
of Baghdad. 101st Air Assault Division continued operations at An Najaf,
while the 82nd Airborne Division struck Iraqi forces at As Samawah. In
northern Iraq, air strikes were called in against the Iraqi 15th Mechanised
Division.
Some sixty miles from Baghdad,
Coalition troops raided the Tharthar Palace.
An FA-18C was shot down, and
a UH-60 helicopter crashed in central Iraq.
3-4/4/03
The US 1st Marine Expeditionary
Force inflicted further destruction on the Baghdad and Al Nida divisions
of the Republican Guard near Al Kut and Baghdad. V Corps secured southern
approaches to Baghdad and captured the International Airport to the west
of the city.
British forces continued operations
against paramilitary forces in and around Basrah, and captured a ballistic
missile battery near Al Zubayr.
A suspected NBC training school
was investigated by Coalition forces.
4-5/4/03
US troops from 3rd Infantry
Division reached the southern outskirts of Baghdad and pushed through the
inner city to the international airport in the west. The build-up of forces
at the airport continued.
British forces expanded the
area of control northwards from the main southern oilfields near Basrah.
A large number of uninterred human remains were found at a regime headquarters
near Al Zubayr and are undergoing forensic examination. They appear to
significantly predate the current conflict.
5-6/4/03
US forces consolidated their
positions around Baghdad and at the international airport, establishing
control of both the south-western and south-eastern approaches to the city.
Other operations continued at Karbala, An Najaf and As Samawah to eliminate
regime pockets of resistance.
British forces advanced further
into Basrah. Three soldiers were killed in the advance into Basrah.
6-7/4/03
British forces established control
over a large part of the city of Basrah, with the 3rd Battalion, The Parachute
Regiment, clearing on foot the old quarter, inaccessible to vehicles. Two
British soldiers were killed in action.
Around As Samawah, the US 82nd
Airborne Division conducted humanitarian operations, while at An Najaf
the 101st Air Assault Division continued its offensive against enemy positions.
A Ba'ath Party headquarters at Karbala was destroyed. At Baghdad, the 3rd
Infantry Division took a suspected Special Republican Guard headquarters,
whilst the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force consolidated its position to
the east of the city. An Iraqi armoured force was destroyed north-west
of Baghdad.
RFA Sir Percivale made another
large delivery of humanitarian aid supplies to Umm Qasr.
7-8/4/03
A USAF B-1B attacked a leadership
target in the Al Mansur district of Baghdad. US troops held positions in
central Baghdad overnight, while US Marines pushed into the city from the
south-east, taking Rasheed airport. A USAF A-10 aircraft crashed near Baghdad
International Airport; the pilot ejected safely.
British forces completed sweeps
of Basra to remove any pockets of regime resistance. US troops remained
in combat east of Karbala, while also conducting further humanitarian operations
around As Samawah.
8-9/4/03
US troops consolidated their
control of much of Baghdad. The 1st US Marine Expeditionary Force encountered
minimal resistance from regular Army units near Al Amarah. The Marines
also continued to push into south-east Baghdad.
A USAF F-15E aircraft was lost
over Iraq.
9-10/4/03
US forces secured all the major
routes leading into Baghdad, whilst continuing operations to eliminate
resistance within the city. Around Al Hillah, the US 101st Air Assault
Division continued operations against pockets of regime forces, and liberated
warehouses of food hoarded by the regime.
In Baghdad, statues of Saddam
Hussein were torn down to the jubilant cries of the Iraqi crowds.
Elements of 1(UK) Armoured Division
pushed north from Basra towards the US-held positions around Al Amarah.
In the west of the country, the town of Ar Rutbah declared itself open
to Coalition forces.
Mine clearance work along the
southern waterways leading to Umm Qasr having been accomplished, the focus
of Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy clearance teams switched to the
northern waterways leading to Basra.
10-11/4/03
In Baghdad, Coalition troops
took the notorious Abu Gharib prison complex, which proved to be empty.
Operations also continued to increase the security of Baghdad International
Airport. At Karbala, the university was cleared of regime forces.
Coalition and Kurdish forces
occupied Kirkuk. A cease-fire agreement was also brokered with the Iraqi
regular army's 5th Corps near Mosul.
A shipment of humanitarian aid
from the Red Crescent and United Arab Emirates arrived in Umm Qasr.
11-12/4/03
In the west of Iraq, operations
were successfully conducted around Al Qa'im and 15 Iraqi combat aircraft
were captured at Al Asad airfield. Operations continued in Baghdad and
to the south of the city to improve security to allow humanitarian aid
deliveries. The Presidential Scientific Adviser, Amir Hamudi Hasan al-Sadi,
surrendered to Coalition troops in Baghdad.
1(UK) Armoured Division and
US Marines continued work to link the secured areas around Basra and Al
Amarah.
Australian forces commenced
Operation Baghdad Assist to help deliver medical supplies to the city.
12-13/4/03
An Australian C-130 flew medical
supplies into Baghdad International Airport.
In Basra, local police patrols
were resumed under the close supervision of British troops.
13-14/4/03
Reports of US Marines finding
278 artillery shells with chemical warheads.
7 US POWs found alive and well
in Iraq.
British police advisers flown
to Basra to help restore order.
US Marines entered Tikrit, Saddam
Hussein's home town, and secured the Presidential palace, encountering
only limited resistance. In Baghdad, military engineers worked with local
officials to restore power and water supplies.
In southern Baghdad, a man suspected
of being the terrorist Abu Abbas was arrested.
14-15/4/03
Operations continued in northern
Iraq to extend the area controlled by Coalition forces around Arbil, Mosul
and Kirkuk. Emergency supplies of fresh water were delivered around Kirkuk,
pending the recommissioning of water infrastructure.
Clearance operations also continued
in Baghdad and Tikrit, with numerous arms caches recovered. A local police
force was mustered in As Samawah, and police officers conducted joint patrols
with US forces in Baghdad.
British, Australian and US naval
forces continued work to clear the channel into the port of Az Zubayr at
Basrah, dealing with both the threat of mines and derelict ships and wrecks.
15-16/4/03
Security in the northern cities
of Dahuk, Arbil, Mosul and Kirkuk continued to improve, allowing greater
ease of access for humanitarian work.
The remnants of the Iraqi 12th
Armoured Brigade surrendered at Ar Ramadi, west of Baghdad. The US 1st
Marine Expeditionary Force continued operations both within Baghdad and
to the east of the city, as well as at Tikrit. British troops secured Al
Qurnah, midway between Basra and Al Amarah. Good progress continued to
be made in restoring the permanent water infrastructure in Basra and Az
Zubayr.
The international humanitarian
aid effort continued to flow into the country, particularly medical teams
and supplies.
16-17/4/03
Saddam Hussein's half-brother,
Barzan Ibrahim Hasan, was captured by Coalition forces. The US 4th Infantry
Division commenced operations north of Baghdad, engaging an armoured force
at Al Taji. US General Franks, commanding CENTCOM, visited Baghdad to thank
troops for their achievements and consult with Coalition commanders.
17-18/4/03
Samir Abd al-Aziz al-Najim,
a senior Ba'ath Party official, was captured by Iraqi Kurds near Mosul
and handed over to Coalition forces. Khala Khadr Al-Salahat, a member of
the Abul Nidal terrorist organization, surrendered to US Marines in Baghdad.
Hikmat Mizban Ibrahim al-Azzawi, the former Deputy Prime Minister for Economics
and Finance, was also taken into Coalition custody.
The US 4th Infantry Division
cleared a route from Al Taji to Samarra.
Six power plants in Baghdad
were restored to operation, and international medical teams continued to
make good progress in rehabilitating hospitals.
Australian Commandos, of 4th
battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, captured the Iraqi airbase of Al
Asad which is west of Baghdad. An assortment of 51 MiG-21 and MiG-25 fighters
were found either buried or camouflaged to avoid detection.
18-19/4/03
Following repair work by British
troops, the railway between Umm Qasr and Basra reopened, providing both
efficient movement of supplies and humanitarian aid from the port to the
city, and also transport for the local population. A reverse osmosis water
purification plant began operations, providing additional potable water
in the Basra area.
19-20/4/03
The former Iraqi Minister for
Higher Education and Scientific Research, Abd al-Khaliq Abd Al-Gafar, was
detained by Coalition forces.
Australian forces concluded
Operation Baghdad Assist with the delivery of medical supplies to hospitals
in An Nasiriyah, where US forces had made significant progress in restoring
water supplies, with a water plant and four pumping and treatment plants
back in service.
Kuwaiti aid for the animals
of Baghdad zoo was delivered safely.
20-21/4/03
Muhammad Hazmaq al Zubaydi,
the Central Euphrates regional commander, was detained by Coalition forces.
General Garner, the head of the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian
Aid, visited Baghdad, accompanied by his UK deputy, Major General Cross,
and other members of his team. They conducted liaison visits to hospitals,
a sewage treatment plant and a power station.
21-22/4/03
Royal Navy and Royal Australian
Navy teams continued work to clear the waterways of southern Iraq to reopen
additional shipping channels.
Jamal Mustafa Abdullah Sultan
al-Tikriti, deputy chief of the tribal affairs office was detained by coalition
forces.
Mohammed Hamza al-Zubeidi, a
Ba'ath Party commander and former deputy prime minister, was detained by
coalition forces.
Perhaps around a million Shia
pilgrims reached Karbala, a festival suppressed by Saddam Hussein's regime.
RAF aircraft use the Storm Shadow
and Maverick missiles in combat for the first time.
22-23/4/03
The Secretary of State for Defence,
Geoff Hoon MP, began a visit to British forces in southern Iraq.
Muzahim Sa’b Hassan al-Tikriti,
the former Air Defence Force Commander was detained by coalition forces.
Zuhayr Talib Abd al Sattar al
Naqib, former Director of Military Intelligence was detained by coalition
forces.
Muhammad Mahdi al-Salih, the
former Minister of Trade was detained by coalition forces.
Salim Sa’id Khalaf Al-Jumayli,
the former chief of the Iraqi Intelligence Service's American Desk was
detained by coalition forces.
Three US Marines were killed.
23-24/4/03
Australia dispatched an Air
Traffic Control Group to support aircraft operations at Baghdad International
Airport until the restoration of civilian air traffic control is possible.
The Tactical Communications
Wing began to setup a detachment at Bagram airport.
Tariq Aziz, the Deputy Prime
Minister was detained by coalition forces.
25-26/4/03
Paramilitary forces attacked
US troops who were guarding an ammunition cache which had been discovered
in Baghdad. Fire from the paramilitaries caused the cache to explode, killing
six Iraqi civilians. Others, together with a US soldier, were wounded.
26-27/4/03
Husam Muhammad al-Yasin, the
National Monitoring Director was detained by coalition forces.
27-28/4/03
Amir Rashid Muhammad al-Ubaydi,
Presidential Adviser and Oil Minister was detained by coalition forces.
General Garner hosted a political
meeting in Baghdad with over 200 Iraqi delegates. Mike O'Brien, Under-Secretary
of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, represented the British
Government.
The US Defense Secretary visited
US forces in the Gulf.
28-29/4/03
British troops worked to clean
grain silos at Al Amarah in preparation for the coming harvest.
29-30/4/03
The Defence Secretary, Geoff
Hoon, announced the withdrawal of some UK force elements from the Gulf,
and the deployment of replacement units.
The Australian Department of
Defence announced that its contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq would
be conducted under the name Operation Catalyst.
Walid Hamid Tawfiq al-Tikriti,
the governor of Basrah was detained by coalition forces.
30/4-1/5/03
The US Defense Secretary visited
US forces in Baghdad.
There were further serious incidents
in Fallujah.
A US helicopter was destroyed
in an accident, but the crew survived unharmed.
President Bush declared major
combat operations in Iraq over.
