Taking of bridge opens way for Baghdad assault

Allied forces said they had bridged the Tigris river today, opening the way for the final ground assault on Baghdad.

The US Marine 1st Expeditionary Force said they had also gained control of Highway 6, the main road north to the capital from Kut.

The Baghdad Division of the Republican Guard, entrenched near Kut 100 miles south-east of Baghdad, came under further heavy bombardment and is believed by US officials to have lost up to half its strength.

Huge explosions also echoed across Baghdad as Republican Guard positions south of the city were struck.

At Karbala, 70 miles south of the capital, there was a further sustained allied bombardment and US ground troops were engaged in heavy fighting with the Medina Division of the Republican Guard.

The Medina’s military positions near the ancient town were hit by US B-52 bombers and tomahawk cruise missiles and their strength is also now thought to have been reduced by half.

Some of the Republican Guard’s Adnan and Nebuchadnezzar divisions are thought to have moved south to support the Medina and Baghdad divisions.

The third prong of the allied ground push was coming from across the Euphrates River – US Marines killed at least 80 Iraqi in an eight-hour battle at Diwaniyah yesterday.