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War Tracker: April 9, 2003
Forces



WAR UPDATE BATTLEFIELD
GROUND WAR
Baghdad celebration, looting: After days of coalition bombing, hundreds of jubilant Baghdad residents took to the streets Wednesday, tearing down posters of Saddam Hussein and looting government buildings. U.S. Marines helped topple a statue of Saddam and a Shiite Muslim leader told a group of people in Saddam City, a Shiite neighborhood, "The tyrant of the world is finished, thanks to the coalition." Full Story | Video: premium content Saddam statue toppled
Tanks in Baghdad: U.S. Marines in tanks rolled into Baghdad's Firdos Square, just outside the Palestine Hotel in the city's central district, and took up positions on Wednesday. A senior U.S. Army officer told CNN "the majority of Iraqi forces [in the Baghdad area] have now given up." Full Story | The advance on Baghdad | Military analysis: A push to finish the job
Marines in firefight: A U.S. Marine column moving into Baghdad from the east came under heavy fire Wednesday afternoon at Baghdad University after being greeted by cheering Iraqis earlier in the day, reported CNN Correspondent Martin Savidge, embedded with the 1st Marine Regiment. Full Story
Tikrit: Iraqi forces have reinforced the defenses of Tikrit, the birthplace of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Vince Brooks said.
Saddam's whereabouts:Citing unconfirmed reports, Iraqi National Congress leader Ahmad Chalabi told CNN Wednesday that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein survived a Monday airstrike and escaped Baghdad along with at least one of his sons. Chalabi said the reports indicated Saddam has taken refuge in the city of Baqubah, northeast of Baghdad.
Tanks into northern Iraq: The U.S. Army airlifted M1A1 Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other armored vehicles into northern Iraq early Wednesday, giving the 173rd Airborne Brigade firepower and offensive mobility, CNN Correspondent Steve Nettleton reported. M1A1 tank | Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Gallery: War photos | Map: Troop movements
AIR WAR
Bombing in the north: Bombing by coalition forces resumed early Thursday morning in northern Iraq, CNN Correspondent Brent Sadler reported. The heavy bombing began around 1:30 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday). The CNN crew is about 18 miles (30 kilometers) from the front lines in the north.
Airmen missing: The U.S. military is searching for two airmen who are missing after their F-15E Strike Eagle went down Sunday over hostile territory in the vicinity of Tikrit, military officials said. Full Story |  F-15E Strike Eagle
Gulf War pilot: A team of CIA and Pentagon analysts is preparing to enter Iraq to investigate the fate of Navy Capt. Michael Scott Speicher, shot down over Iraq in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf War. Full Story
CASUALTIES
Coalition: 132 coalition deaths reported.
List of coalition fatalities
Iraq: Iraq has not released details of military casualties. Abu Dhabi TV, quoting official Iraqi sources, reported that 1,252 civilians have been killed and 5,103 wounded. CNN cannot independently verify those figures.
War Stories: Wounded Iraqi boy's plea touches millions
POWs/MIAs
Missing or captured: Seven U.S. troops are being held as POWs, and eight are listed as missing in action.
Coalition POWs/MIAs
Iraqi POWs: More than 7,300 Iraqi soldiers are in coalition custody, according to U.S. Central Command.

COALITION SORTIES

Source: U.S. defense officials. Numbers are estimates
ON THE SCENE
Savidge: From jubilation to conflagration
Amin: Revenge a concern now
Sadler: Sharp contrast in northern Iraq
Gupta: 'A change in mood'
Franken: Smooth sailing in eastern Iraq
More On the Scene reports
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF
Medical supplies shortage: Health organizations are becoming alarmed at the shortage of medical supplies in Iraq's hospitals, which are already struggling to treat the large number of war casualties. Full Story
Audio Slide Show: Wounded civilians in Nasiriya
STRATEGY
Explore U.S. war plans and tactics
with CNN's military analysts

Clark: Ground commanders 'juggling priorities'
Clark: 'Still plenty of venom' in Baghdad
Grange: Destroying bunkers a challenge
Clark: 'Boots on the ground' win wars
Turner: 'Learning as we go'
Shepperd: Iraqi resistance faltering
Shepperd: Heat can make gear 'miserable'
Animation: Battle scenarios | More battle scenarios
LAST SEVEN DAYS
April 8: Coalition tightens grip on Baghdad
April 7: Airstrike targets senior Iraqi officials
April 6: Baghdad surrounded
April 5: U.S. forces enter Baghdad
April 4: Republican Guard moving toward airport
April 3: Ground troops clash over Baghdad airport
April 2: Helicopter down in Iraq
Archive »

EDITOR'S NOTE: CNN's policy is to not report information that puts operational security at risk.
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