[ WAR IN IRAQ ]
The latest developments
Key developments in the war against Iraq,
compiled by the Associated Press:
- Sandstorms slowed U.S. and British forces to a crawl and thwarted air missions today as U.S.-led forces edged closer to the Iraqi capital. In the south, British forces captured a senior Iraqi official and killed 20 fighters.
- President Bush, seeking $74.7 billion as a down payment for the war, said today that coalition forces are "on a steady advance" but that he could not predict how long the fighting will last, but stressed "we know its outcome: We will prevail."
- Baghdad residents, hunkered down for an eventual battle, woke to howling winds and the distant crash of artillery. About a dozen blasts were heard in the distance from roughly the same area where Iraqi troops are believed to be dug in to defend the city
- Secretary of Defense Rumseld said coalition forces have taken more than 3,500 Iraqi prisoners; humanitarian assistance -- "food, water and medicine" -- is already being delivered; he also sought to minimize expectations of a swift end to the war
- Iraqi troops were firing mortars at civilian protesters staging an uprising in the main southern city, Basra, and that coalition forces were firing missiles at the pro-Saddam Hussein forces.
- About 500 Iraqi fighters were killed in the last two days by the 3rd Infantry Division's tanks and mechanized units as they swept through southern Iraq, according to ground forces command.
- British Prime Minister Tony Blair, preparing for a hasty summit in Washington to discuss postwar Iraq, said today there are bound to be "difficult days ahead" for coalition forces.
- With food dwindling for millions of Iraqis, a U.N. aid agency will make the biggest single request for cash in its history -- more than $1 billion to help feed the war-stricken nation for about six months.
- Eleven of the 20 U.S. military personnel who had died in Iraq by today were Marines who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and most of them were killed in an ambush near An Nasiriyah, the Pentagon said.
- Six satellite jamming devices, which Iraq was using to try to thwart American precision guided weapons, were destroyed and have had "no effect" on U.S. military operations, a U.S. general said.
- Russia repeated denials of American allegations that it is selling anti-tank guided missiles, jamming devices and night-vision goggles to Iraq. It hinted that Washington also had sold sensitive equipment to other nations.
- The Army sergeant suspected in a deadly grenade attack in Kuwait will be moved to Germany after a military magistrate found probable cause that the soldier committed the crime, the Army said. A captain was killed and 15 soldiers injured, including the brigade commander, Col. Ben Hodges.
- In a friendly fire incident, an American F-16 fired on a U.S. Patriot missile battery in Iraq after the battery's radar locked on the jet, U.S. Central Command said=. No U.S. casualties were reported.
- U.S. Marines punched past Iraqi resistance to cross the Euphrates river at An Nasiriya.
The American Red Cross will be providing the following services:
Red Cross can help,
if needed
Red Cross offices across the state are equipped with information and guidance services. The Hawaii chapter headquarters are at 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu 96816; its phone number is 734-2101.
- Relaying urgent news, such as about births and deaths, using a high-tech network linking military personnel with their loved ones, no matter where they are.
- Mobilizing and deploying its workers into areas of conflict to distribute donated comfort items and operate a 24-hour canteen service and game, video and book library.
- Having its workers visit hospitals and remote locations to provide counseling and social services.
- Providing emergency-readiness information for families, individuals, schools, neighborhoods and businesses at each of the five threat levels of the state's color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System. These recommendations can be found at www.hawaiiredcross.org.
- Staffing a toll-free preparedness-information hot line for any type of disaster at 866-GET INFO.
List of 20 U.S. troops killed and 12 captured or missing in war on Iraq. Hometowns may be those of family.
WAR’S TOLL
Killed
- Nine Marines, fighting near An Nasiriya, encountered Iraqi troops pretending to surrender Sunday. Names not released.
- Army Capt. Christopher Scott Seifert, 27, grenade attack at 101st Airborne Division camp in Kuwait, Sunday. U.S. soldier suspected in attack, military officials say.
- Army Reserve Spc. Brandon S. Tobler, 19, noncombat vehicle accident in Iraq, Saturday. Hometown not available.
- Navy Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams, 27, of La Mesa, Calif., collision of two British helicopters, Saturday.
- Marine Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Ill.; Marine Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston; Marine Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Waters-Bey, 29, of Baltimore; Marine Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine. Helicopter crash in Kuwait, Friday.
- Marine 2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers, 30, of Harrison County, Miss.; Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, 22, of Los Angeles. Ground combat in Iraq, Friday.
- Marine Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski, 26, of Buffalo, N.Y. Machine gun accidentally discharged, date uncertain.
- Sgt. Nicolas M. Hodson, 22, of Smithville, Mo. Vehicle accident in Iraq, date uncertain.
Captured
- Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ronald D. Young Jr., 26, from Lithia Springs, Ga.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 David S. Williams, 30, from Orlando, Fla. Pilots of Apache helicopter downed after not returning from mission Sunday. Shown on Iraqi state television yesterday, apparently uninjured.
- Army Spc. Joseph Hudson, 23, of Almagordo, N.M.; Army Pfc. Patrick Miller, 23, of Park City, Kan.; Army Spc. Shoshana Johnson, 30, of Fort Bliss, Texas; Edgar Hernandez, 21, supply truck driver, of Mission, Texas, rank unknown; Army Sgt. James Riley, of Pennsauken; N.J. Shown on Iraqi television after pre-dawn ambush of convoy near An Nasiriya, southwestern Iraq, Sunday. U.S. military lists them as missing, along with seven other soldiers. Iraqi TV also displayed four bodies of what it said were Americans from the attack.
Sources: U.S. military and relatives
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A line of AH-64 Apache helicopters waited on the flight line Sunday at Camp Udairi, Kuwait, as another squadron of helicopters carried troops to southern Iraq. Also shown is a screen capture of a video shown on Al-Jazeera television yesterday: Chief Warrant Officer Ronald Young, Jr., 26, from Georgia, left, and Chief Warrant Officer David Williams, 30, from Florida, were aboard an Apache helicopter that was forced down Sunday during fighting in central Iraq.
Hawaii military links and information
