The U.S.-led occupation forces face unexpected stiff Iraqi resistance

BAGHDAD, March 24 (IslamOnlin.net & News Agencies) – The U.S.-led occupation forces licked their wounds following a day of setbacks in their invasion of Iraq with the Iraqi television running film footage Monday, March 24, showing a U.S. Apache helicopter that had been shot down over Karbala, south of Baghdad.

The television pictures from Karbala showed the aircraft surrounded by Iraqi civilians, dancing and shouting slogans glorifying President Saddam Hussein and brandishing Kalashnikov rifles, Agence France-Pressse (AFP) reported.

The inscription "United States of America" was clearly visible on the tail of the helicopter and the figures 95135 were inscribed on the rear rotor.

"The aircraft was shot down with a rifle by a brave fighter, the farmer Ali Obeid of Kerbala," the station announced.

Earlier in the day, Washington acknowledged having endured its toughest day, Sunday, March 23, in the Iraq war, with a growing number of dead and captured U.S. soldiers.

CNN correspondent embedded with the U.S.-led occupation forces said U.S. Apache helicopters attacked Iraq's Republican Guard units early Monday in an intense fire fight that lasted about three hours.

Penhaul said the helicopters encountered a "heavy, heavy barrage" of anti-aircraft fire in the battle, about 60 miles south of Baghdad. He could not immediately say whether all of the U.S. helicopters returned safely.

The Apache unit went up against the 2nd Armored Brigade of the elite Medina Division, which is part of the Republican Guard, the troops most loyal to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, he said.

Heroic Resistance

As the Apaches flew in, they encountered stiff resistance, he said.

The correspondent added that he could not see the extent of the anti-aircraft fire, but the pilots of his helicopter reported the Republican Guard "laid up a heavy, heavy barrage."

Some of the U.S. aircraft flying in the mission reported taking fire.

Some of the elements the Apaches tried to strike were Iraqi T-72 battle tanks, the most advanced tank used by the Iraqi forces.

The Republican Guard was estimated to have at least 90 of those tanks, along with multiple pieces of field artillery and armored personnel carriers.

Nasiriyah was, in effect, the scene of the heaviest fighting between the Iraqi fighters and the U.S.-led invaders, as outnumbered Iraqi forces held off an assault by marines seeking to move past the river crossing and head north to Baghdad.

"Everybody is gearing up, there's going to be a major battle," AFP quoted one U.S. officer as saying Monday. "We're going straight through that city. It will be a Hail Mary with guns blazing."

Occupation Landings Foiled

For his part, Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf said Monday Iraqi troops have foiled attempted British and U.S. landings in key towns both southwest and north of the capital.

"Yesterday, they tried to land mercenaries near Najaf and Karbala, but they were encircled and fled," Sahhaf said.

"They tried the same thing, in the north, near Kirkuk, but were pursued and fled," the minister added, after the U.S.-led occupation warplanes mounted morning air raids on Iraqi frontlines near the oil-rich city.

In the meantime, a U.S. officer said Monday a howling sandstorm in the desert of southern Iraq – not to mention Iraqi stiff resistance -- is slowing the advance toward Baghdad of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division.

"Obviously we have to drive slower," said Captain Marcus Ritter, one of the U.S.-led occupation officers.

"However, it won't affect the overall mission. We just have to adjust,” the invader added.

The storm began Monday around 11:00 am local time (08H00 GMT) and was predicted to continue throughout the day.

The 101st Airborne is equipped with a fleet of Apache and Black Hawk attack helicopters as well as Chinook troop transporting helicopters.