BRIEFING: AT WAR WITH IRAQ
BY WORLD TRIBUNE.COM WITH MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE

Day 9 Ñ March 28, 3003
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Kurds begin their advance in northern Iraq

Kurdish allies of the United States have begun their advance in northern Iraq.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan captured the town of Qarah Anjir near Kirkuk on Friday and came within 15 kilometers of the oil capital of the north. Kurdish sources said Iraqi troops fled their posts and the town was taken without a fight.

"The Iraqi army is finished," Patriot Union commander Rostam Hamid Rahim said. "They were ordered to pull back to defend the city."

Iraqi forces are still deployed around Kirkuk. But Kurdish sources said the city would probably be captured over the weekend by U.S. special operations forces. About 20 U.S. military cargo aircraft have transported troops and equipment to northern Iraq during the last 24 hours, the sources said.

Turkey has been alarmed by the Kurdish advance toward Kirkuk. The United States has pledged that Kurdish forces would not enter the city. Kurdish sources said they would gain control over Kirkuk.


Syria considers storing Iraqi WMD near Jordan

TEL AVIV Ñ Syria is said to be considering transporting Iraqi missiles and weapons of mass destruction to areas near the Jordanian border for attacks against Israel.

The Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot reported on Friday that Syria has received Iraqi missiles and WMD to ensure that they are not seized by United Nations weapons inspectors or by U.S. and British troops. The newspaper said Syria is not planning on using these weapons in any strike against Israel, but could return them to Iraqi forces based in the west.

On Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said unspecified weapons and material are being transported from Syria to Iraq. Rumsfeld said he was concerned, but would not elaborate.

Coalition forces are said to maintain a tenuous hold over western Iraq. Israeli officials said the coalition has gained control over the H-3 area, but has not achieved a firm grip on the neighboring H-2. The two zones are equal to the size of the state of New York.


British find evidence Al Qaida joined Iraqi forces in Basra

British has found evidence that Al Qaida insurgents joined forces with soldiers loyal to the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. British officials quoted captured Iraqi soldiers as saying that Al Qaida mercernaries are fighting with Saddam's forces near Basra. They said about a dozen Al Qaida members are helping coordinate attacks on coalition positions in A-Zubayr.

Al Qaida-aligned fighters have been operating in northern Iraq near the Iranian border. But this is the first evidence that members of the network led by Osama Bin Laden are also fighting for the Saddam regime in southern Iraq.

British forces have refrained from entering Basra, a city of 1.3 million and the second largest in Iraq. Instead, British aircraft and special operations forces have been operating on the edge of the city and bombing regime targets.

On Friday, British officials said Saddam's forces have been firing on thousands of Iraqi civilians who have sought to flee Basra. The officials did not provide an estimate of civilian casualties.


Palestinians step up pro-Saddam rallies

RAMALLAH Ñ Palestinians, encouraged by their leader Yasser Arafat, have increased their demonstrations in support of Iraq.

Demonstrations are taking place daily in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in support of President Saddam Hussein and against the United States. The rallies have been encouraged by the Palestinian Authority and its calls for support of Baghdad.

On Friday, tens of thousands of Palestinians displayed their biggest support for Saddam amid the U.S.-led war against Iraq. They burned effigies of U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In addition, thousands of Palestinians called on Saddam to launch missile attacks on Israel. Most of the rallies were said to have been organized by the Iraqi-financed Arab Liberation Front.

"Oh Saddam, Oh our beloved, strike, strike Tel Aviv," the crowds chanted.

Hamas, however, organized the largest rally on Friday, when 30,000 people marched through Gaza City. Organizers called on Saddam to send suicide bombers against U.S. troops.


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