Battle for Umm Qasr
| date | March 21 - March 25, 2003 |
|---|---|
| place | Umm-Qasr, southern Iraq |
| output | US coalition victory |
| consequences | Iraqi border defenses collapse |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| losses | |
|
14 dead |
30-40 dead |
.svg){kind=small}
The battle for Umm Qasr was the first military confrontation during the Iraq war . The deep sea port of Umm Qasr is the only one in the country and was therefore an important military target. The port was needed by the coalition forces for the continuation of the invasion and the supply of their troops. The attack on the port city began on March 21, 2003. The 15th. Marine Expeditionary Unit and the 3rd Commando Brigade of the Royal Marines and the Polish special unit GROM spearheaded the attack on the port area. The coalition forces faced units of the Republican Guard , which offered stronger resistance than the military leadership expected. After days of heavy fighting, the fighting was relocated to the old town of Umm Qasr. The port was considered secure on March 25th. The fighting in the urban area continued for some time. During the conquest of the city, soldiers from the Polish special unit GROM under the command of Roman Polko were deployed.
About 30-40 soldiers were killed in the fighting on the Iraqi side, while the coalition forces had 14 casualties. 450 Iraqi soldiers were taken prisoner of war .
