U.S. Forces Capture Two Airports in Western Iraq Without Significant Resistance - 2003-03-21

U.S. and British forces, following the start of their ground invasion to depose Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, are taking control of various areas in the south and west, advancing rapidly towards Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. According to U.S. defense officials, American forces today captured two airports in western Iraq without facing significant resistance. Several coalition forces have taken control of the city of Umm Qasr in southern Iraq, and British soldiers have secured the Faw Peninsula along the shores of the Persian Gulf. Coalition forces are now working to capture Iraq's second-largest city, Basra. The Chief of the British Army Staff states that a large number of Iraqi soldiers are surrendering to coalition forces. He mentioned that despite earlier reports claiming that 30 oil wells in southern Iraq had been set on fire, only seven burning oil wells exist in the area. Meanwhile, according to U.S. military officials, a U.S. Marine who died during the conflict in southern Iraq, along with four Americans and eight Britons who were killed due to their helicopter crash in northern Kuwait, were the first casualties of coalition forces. British Prime Minister Tony Blair states that the military operation is progressing well, but victory in the war will not be achieved overnight.