The Push for Baghdad

IN BAGHDAD Coalition air strikes dropped larger bombs on central Baghdad and also took aim at Republican Guard targets south of the city. An explosion, possibly caused by an errant coalition bomb, was reported in a crowded market in a northern Baghdad neighborhood

50 miles from Baghdad --U.S. 101st Airborne launches helicopter attacks against Republican Guard

"KARBALA GAP" The most direct route for the 3rd Infantry Division into Baghdad runs through a narrow strip of land, 20 to 25 miles wide, between the Euphrates River and Lake Razzazah. Control of the Gap would give coalition forces a wide range of options in attacking Baghdad, but the area is guarded, for now, by Saddam's Republican Guard

AMBUSHES Army and Marine supply convoys came under constant attack and harassment from Iraqi paramilitary forces, and even a suicide bombing. The attacks slowed progress and diverted troops on the march toward Baghdad

NEW AIR BASE The first U.S. cargo planes landed at an airfield south of Nasiriya that is expected to become a major point of resupply for coalition forces. Iraqi forces continued to attack coalition positions around the city

AID DELIVERIES Navy Special Warfare forces swept the waterways around Iraq's lone deep-sea port at Umm Qasr for mines and sniper's nests. By the end of last week, they had secured the port, paving the way for British vessels carrying food and other supplies for civilians in the south

IN NORTHERN IRAQ

--U.S. paratroopers took over an airstrip, preparing it for military operations --Iraqi forces abandoned Chamchamal as Kurds advanced --U.S. and Kurdish forces routed Islamic militants from villages

WHO ARE SADDAM'S MOST LOYAL FORCES?

Republican Guard 60,000-100,000 Controlled by Saddam's younger son and heir, Qusay, the Guard includes three divisions deployed around Baghdad and one near Saddam's hometown of Tikrit. Guard forces crushed a Shi'ite uprising in Basra in 1991. Though the Guard's heavy weaponry is outdated, U.S. officials believe Saddam may have deployed chemical weapons to the Medina Division

Special Republican Guard 15,000-25,000 Largely recruited from Saddam's al-Bu Nasir tribe and other loyal groups, SRG troops are scattered throughout Baghdad and well-trained in urban combat. Its units protect Saddam and top Baath Party officials

Fedayeen Saddam ("Saddam's Men of Sacrifice") 20,000-25,000 Formed in 1995, the fedayeen handpicks members as teenagers from loyal tribal areas and are considered among the fiercest of Saddam's fighters. Often disguised in civilian garb, fedayeen units have mounted attacks against coalition troops. Operating outside the law, the group has a "death squadron" that executes people in their homes

Al Quds (Jerusalem) Army Size unknown A volunteer civilian group, the Quds militia was founded by Saddam in September 2000 with the supposed purpose of "liberating Palestine." Now providing domestic defense, Quds fighters (which include women) are trained in basic combat. They have staged guerrilla attacks outside Baghdad, then faded into residential areas when pursued

Secret Police and Spies 15,000-25,000 Saddam has eight overlapping security agencies. These include layers of domestic and foreign spies, guerrilla operatives and "enforcers" who intimidate Iraqis to fight. Qusay leads the most powerful agencies, and members may have access to chemical or biological weapons. The U.S. believes more than 300 agents are working abroad under diplomatic cover

IN NORTHER IRAQ

U.S. paratoopers took over an airstrip, preparing it for military operations

Iraqi forces abandoned Chanchamal as Kurds advanced

U.S. and Kurdish forces routed Islamic militants from villages