Battle of Umm Qasr

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Umm Qasr
partof=2003 Invasion of Iraq


caption=U.S M1 Abrams tank fires its 120mm cannon at Iraqi forces during fighting near Umm Qasr, 23 March 2003
date=March 21 - March 25 2003
place=Umm Qasr, Iraq
result=Coalition victory
combatant1=flagicon|Iraq|1991 Iraq
combatant2=flagicon|United States 15th MEU
flagicon|United Kingdom 3 Commando Brigade
flagicon|Poland GROM
commander1=N/A
commander2=flagicon|Poland Roman Polko
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=30-40 killed
450 captured [ [http://www.comw.org/pda/0310rm8ap1.html#2.%20Basra%20area Wages of War -- Appendix 1. Survey of reported Iraqi combatant fatalities in the 2003 war | Commonwealth Institute of Cambridge] ]
casualties2=14 killed [ [http://www.icasualties.org/oif/prdDetails.aspx?hndRef=3-2003 Period Details ] ] The Battle of Umm Qasr was the first military confrontation in the Iraq War. At the start of the Second Gulf War, one of the first objectives was the port of Umm Qasr. On March 21 2003, Allied forces advanced across Southern Iraq and US marines captured the new port part of Umm Qasr, spending several more days in fighting through the old town part of Umm Qasr encountering fierce resistance.

The assault on the town's port was spearheaded by the US 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the British 3 Commando Brigade of the Royal Marines and the Polish GROM troops, but Iraqi forces put up unexpectedly strong resistance, requiring several days' fighting before the area was cleared of defenders. [" [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,920580,00.html Fierce battle around port] ," "The Guardian", 24 March 2003] After the waterway was de-mined by Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FOURTEEN Detachment ONE and Naval Special Clearance Team ONE of the U.S. Navy and reopened, Umm Qasr played an important role in the shipment of humanitarian supplies to Iraqi civilians. ["Iraq aid confined to south", "The Guardian", 2 April 2003]

The port was declared safe and open on March 25th 2003, after Royal Marines took over control of the port and conducted raids into the old part of town.

Coalition minesweepers, including HMS Bangor aided by divers and US Navy MH-53E helicopters and trained dolphins and seals located and cleared the approach to the port of mines allowing RFA "Sir Galahad" to dock after a couple of days.

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2873311.stm Tough battle for Umm Qasr (BBC)]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2887545.stm Battle for hearts and minds at Umm Qasr (BBC)]
* [http://www.britains-smallwars.com/gulf2/UmmQasr.html The Battle for Umm Qasr]

Notes