ABCNEWS Journalists Report From Gulf
March 31 -- As U.S. ground forces resupplied for a push on Baghdad, coalition airstrikes continued against targets in the Iraqi capital. The times on the following dispatches from ABCNEWS correspondents are all approximate.
Bob Woodruff, with the Marines north of Nasiriyah7 p.m. ET, 3 a.m. Iraq
Marines also went house to house today searching for Iraqi military fighters. The people in these houses were gathered together, handcuffed and driven away in armored vehicles. Some were held for further questioning in the morning while others were deemed not a security threat and released. According to the marines that found it, there is enough ammunition in this compound for 10,000 Iraqi fighters. Forty six buildings packed with boxes of munitions, tank shells, highly explosive mortars of various sizes, ominous looking mines and artillery fuses. And some of the boxes appear to have come from Jordan, a U.S. ally. But there are no markings indicating just when they were purchased.
Aaron Katersky, with U.S. Marines at an air base near Iraq3 p.m. ET; 11 p.m. Iraq
The Marines now operate closer to Baghdad. They control about 10 airfields inside Iraq and have stocked each one with fuel and ammunition for helicopters and fighters. It means a faster turnaround between sorties and better support for ground troops.
Tamala Edwards, with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing in southern Iraq12 p.m. ET; 8 p.m. Iraq
We hear story after story of people trying to sneak on the base, dress as civilians and hide among civilians. They are also using civilians as shields and taking Iraqi detainees. They talk about Iraqi forces asking or forcing them to either take up arms, or put mortar fire artillery in their front yard and hide among them.
Stephanie Gosk, with the 32nd Army Air Missile Defense Unit in southern Iraq 10 a.m. ET; 6 p.m. Iraq
Although they initially thought that they were going to move north after being at this site for a couple of days, they now have to stay here for at least a week. The challenge for them now is to change gears. It is one mentality to think that you're going to be moving in a short period of time, and it is an altogether different mentality to think you are going to have to stay here and dig in for at least seven days.
