Battle for Basra (2003)

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The Battle for Basra (2003) was a key engagement during the Iraq War in which British-led coalition forces captured Iraq’s second-largest city from Saddam Hussein’s regime in the opening phase of the invasion.

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military operation
aftermath coalition occupation of Basra
collapse of Ba'athist control in Basra
alsoKnownAs Battle of Basra (2003)
belligerent Ba'athist Iraq
Fedayeen
surface form: Fedayeen Saddam

Iraqi Army
Government of Iraq
surface form: Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein

Shi'a militias in Basra (anti-Saddam elements)
United Kingdom
United States of America
surface form: United States
characteristic fierce resistance from Fedayeen Saddam
street-to-street fighting
use of irregular forces by Iraqi regime
coalition US-led coalition
combatant British Armed Forces
United States Marine Corps
surface form: US Marine Corps units
conflict Iraq War
country Iraq
date April 2003
March 2003
endTime early April 2003
goal secure Basra’s port facilities
secure southern supply lines for coalition forces
involves civilian population of Basra
leadForce United Kingdom NERFINISHED
location Basra
Basra
surface form: Basra Governorate
militaryTheaterCommand British I (UK) Armoured Division
objective removal of Saddam Hussein’s control over Basra
seizure of Basra
partOf 2003 invasion of Iraq
phaseOf opening phase of the 2003 invasion of Iraq
relatedEvent 2007 Battle of Basra
result capture of Basra by coalition forces
coalition victory
startTime 20 March 2003
strategicImportance Iraq’s second-largest city
center of Iraq’s southern oil industry
key access point to Persian Gulf
major port city
tactics air support
armored assaults
artillery support
cordon-and-search operations
urban warfare
theater southern Iraq
surface form: Southern Iraq

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Operation Telic notableBattle Battle for Basra (2003)