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| Iraq |
| U.S. in Street-By-Street Fight in Kerbala |
| 2003-04-05 |
| U.S. army troops fought street-by-street battles with Iraqi paramilitaries in the central city of Kerbala on Saturday in an attack aimed at protecting the backs of U.S. forces moving into Baghdad. Iraqi fighters took up positions on rooftops in the narrow streets of this Shi'ite shrine city and opened fire with rocket propelled grenades and assault rifles. U.S. planes and troops hit back with laser-guided bombs, artillery and heavy arms fire. "It's freaky in there. Lots of bullets flying around. It's pretty scary," said one young U.S. soldier who was evacuated after being hit by fragments from a hand grenade. The fighting raged non-stop all Saturday afternoon as the U.S. forces progressed slowly toward the city's center. Troops from the 101st Airborne Division landed in helicopters on the western edge of Kerbala, moving in beside a tank battalion with Apache attack helicopters overhead. Iraqis offered tough resistance from one building complex, keeping OH-58 Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopters at bay with sustained fire whenever they closed in. Fedayeen also knocked out a Bradley armored vehicle with an RPG. This correspondent saw about six wounded U.S. soldiers. Some troops who were burned in the incident kept fighting. "here's been a tough fight. It is tough in there. And it's hot," said Sergeant Major Patrick Boykin of 101st Airborne Division. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |