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Battle of Baghdad (2003)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Egil (talk | contribs) at 07:16, 13 April 2003 (Looting). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

In early April 2003, as part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, U.S. forces led by American M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles made the first major Coalition incursion into Baghdad. [1] The invasion of the city commenced three days after Allied forces had secured the Baghdad airport.

US officials said that their forces fought skirmishes there with Iraq's Special Republican Guard, with two task forces going up to the Tigris river from the southern outskirts of the city before moving west towards the airport. Major General Victor Renuart said the intention was to indicate to the Iraqi leader that Coalition forces could move in and out of Baghdad whenever they wished. [2] The Guardian reported that US forces occupied two "presidential palaces". [3] The Army also surrounded the Information Ministry and other key government installations for a while. [4]


Iraq, which has no free press, initially issued a statement contradicting Western reporters' accounts of the invasion. Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, head of the Information Ministry, told a press conference on April 7 that there were no U.S. troops in Baghdad, saying: "Their infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Baghdad. Be assured, Baghdad is safe, protected. Iraqis are heroes." [5] Western news media reported the denial as straight news, while continuing to report Allied military activity within Baghdad, such as the capture of two of Saddam's presidential palaces. The denials tapered off after US military forces surrounded the Information Ministry.

As the American forces secured control of the capitol, Iraqi civilians immediately began looting the palaces, as well as government offices. A 20-foot tall statue of Saddam was toppled, and various remenants of the president's vast personality cult were defaced.[6]

The next days, looting and unrest became a serious issue. With the notable exception of the Department of Oil, which was guarded by American troops, the majority of government and public buildings were totally plundered, to the point there were nothing of any value left. This included functions such as hospitals, and the National Museum of Iraq, which was a virtual repository of treasures from the ancient Mesopotamian cultures as well as early Islamic culture. One hospitals have managed to keep on functioning by organizing local vigilante as armed guards.

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