ABCNEWS Journalists Report From Gulf

April 2, 2003 -- Troops continue to surround Baghdad in anticipation for a showdown with the Iraqi Republican Guard. The times on the following dispatches from ABCNEWS correspondents are all approximate.

Ted Koppel, with the 3rd Infantry Division seizing a bridge 20 miles from Baghdad7 p.m. ET, 4 a.m. Thursday Iraq

After breaking through the Karbala Gap under cover of a devastating blanket of multiple-launch rockets, elements of the 3rd drove towards the Euphrates river, leaving a trail of burned out Iraqi vehicles. … After hitting the far side of the bridge with rockets, artillery, cluster bombs, and the withering fire of low-flying Apache helicopters, an armored company drove its M-1 tanks and Bradleys across the Euphrates. … Contact with the enemy lasted hours after the bridge had already fallen. But the expected heavy resistance from Republican Guard divisions never materialized.

Richard Engel, Baghdad7 p.m. ET, 4 a.m. Thursday Iraq

Walking through the streets of Baghdad today, it's clear that this war is not popular. I ask this man if he thinks the war is about liberating him from Saddam's brutal regime. "Liberation?" he asked me. "Who asked for America to liberate us?" We were interrupted by a pair of jets streaking overhead, their smoke trails visible against a backdrop of thick black smoke from oil fires.

People here are only told by their government that the war is a seemingly inexhaustible series of Iraqi military victories. [They] hardly seem to notice that some coalition [forces] are now only miles from the city. And those who may want to take a stand against the regime are kept silent by the thousands of armed men from Saddam's ruling Baath Party who are watching for any sign of coalition troops or civil unrest.

Don Dahler, with the 101st Airborne Division, near Najaf, Iraq7 p.m. ET, 4 a.m. Thursday Iraq

The 101st Airborne entered Najaf with the aim of clearing out paramilitary fighters loyal to Saddam Hussein. Whenever the 101st's scout teams spotted armed Iraqis, mortar fire was called in. Many other residents seemed eager to help, in one case warning of "car bombs" on a bridge. They turned out to be landmines, about 40 of them. The mined bridge slowed the progress of one of the division's battalions, but only briefly. Then the sweep to the city center began in earnest.

For perhaps the first time in this war, Iraqis happily welcomed invading forces. It was for the U.S. soldiers a brief reward for a day full of accomplishments.

Jim Ryan from the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf4 p.m. ET, 1 a.m. Thursday, Iraq

The nightly number of missions flown from this flight deck has doubled in the last week to about 70. More than 30 targets were struck last night. The commander of the "constellation battle group" says good weather and a stable supply chain are helping the coalition to strike hard at Republican Guard positions around Baghdad.

Tim Scheld, Doha, Qatar2 p.m. ET, 11 p.m. Iraq

Iraqi fighters are holed up inside a gold domed mosque in the town of Najaf. U.S. Military officials are saying the Iraqi fighters are firing shots at coalition troops from inside the holy site, which is revered by Shiite Muslims across the world.

Vic Ratner, Kuwait City 10 a.m. ET, 7 p.m. Iraq

There is another rescue that you may not have heard about. A Navy F-14 went down on a mission over Iraq. A search and rescue team got both members out safely. Commanders say about 70 soldiers and airmen have been rescued since the conflict began.

Bob Schmidt with Army Task Force 369 in central Iraq 9 a.m. ET, 6 p.m. Iraq

This unit has been on the move since 2 o'clock in the morning Iraq time. First, they seized a series of bridges that spanned a dam. Then we kept moving and by about the time the sun was setting here in Iraq, this unit was engaged in what's turning out to be a pretty spirited fight. They've gained control of a key crossing over the Euphrates river. The bridge was partly damaged by the Iraqis but now U.S. armor and other units are forwarding across.

I'm looking out over a pretty disturbing scene, a lot of black smoke rising beyond the palm trees in the distance. There is smoke from the targets that were hit earlier by the U.S. tanks as they rolled through. I can see some of those tanks are clanking their way across this macadam road. They're passing over this bridge which is going to be a major link for the U.S. military in getting things into Baghdad which is not all that far away from here.

Richard Engel, Baghdad8 a.m. ET, 5 p.m. Iraq

There is a lot of tension here in the city as the forces advance. Although government officials are trying to maintain an air of normalcy, those who can afford it have been boarding buses and heading out of the city.

Ted Koppel with the Army's 3rd Division near the Euphrates river8 a.m. ET, 5 p.m. Iraq

There is going to be quite a battle going on here within the next hour or two. What they have done is cover the bridge in smoke so that when the tanks start to go through, they will not be observed by what are believed to be Republican Guard on the other side of the bridge.

Mike Cerre with the 1st Marine Division in Central Iraq8 a.m. ET, 5 p.m. Iraq

For the first time, coalition forces, advancing from the south, have crossed the Tigris river in central Iraq. They now hold a major blocking position on a major north-south artery, leading in and out of Baghdad.

Tim Scheld, Doha, Qatar7 a.m. ET, 4 p.m. Iraq

U.S. forces pushed closer to Baghdad overnight. The fighting took place on several fronts and succeeded in opening up two main avenues to the Iraqi capital. The 3rd Infantry, supported by ground-shaking artillery, pushed past the capital of Karbala, southwest of Baghdad. To the east it was the Marines 1st Expeditionary Force blasting across a bridge over the Tigris river, and continuing on north of the city of Kut.

Aaron Katersky, with the 1st Marines Expeditionary Force at an air base near the Iraqi border6 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. Iraq

On a long deployment like this, a veteran Marine says it's the simple things you miss. He says he doesn't need a steak dinner; he would just like to sit in McDonald's with a cup of coffee or walk through a Wal-Mart.

Homemade greeting cards from elementary school students are hanging in the maintenance shop of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533. They brighten a tent filled with only airline parts. In a thank-you letter back, one of the aviators offered a simple explanation for this war. "We are the president's muscle. We are working to protect innocent people and destroying Saddam Hussein's ability to hurt others."