Battle of Basra (2003)

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Basra (2003)
partof=2003 Invasion of Iraq


caption=
date=March 21 - April 6 2003
place=Basra, Iraq
result=British victory
combatant1=flagicon|Iraq|1991 Iraq
combatant2=UK
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=395-515 KIA [ [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=11 killed [ [http://icasualties.org/oif/prdDetails.aspx?hndRef=3-2003] ] :"For other battles of Basra, see Battle of Basra."The Battle of Basra (March-April 2003) was one of the first battles of the invasion of Iraq. It pitched British and Iraqi forces.

The British 7 Armoured Brigade ('The Desert Rats') fought their way into Iraq's second-largest city, Basra, on 6 April, coming under constant attack by regulars and Fedayeen, while the British Red Devils cleared the 'old quarter' of the city that was inaccessible to vehicles. Entering Basra had only been achieved after two weeks of conflict, which included the biggest tank battle by British forces since World War II when the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards destroyed 14 Iraqi tanks on 27 March.

Notes

External links

*http://www.britains-smallwars.com/gulf2/Basra.html