ABCNEWS Journalists Report From Gulf

March 31, 2003 -- 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.

The battalion sent up to us what can basically amount to a care package consisting of Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, candy, and microwaveable meals. I think all of it is trying to help the morale as the soldiers here deal with what looks to be a fairly significant delay in their movements.

Richard Engel, Baghdad 8 a.m. ET; 4 p.m. Iraq

Last night, and again just a short while ago, there was a huge explosion not far from where I am. One of the presidential palaces that was used for Saddam Hussein's youngest son, Qusai, was hit. I could hear jets flying in the sky and then a massive explosion. It went up in a white mushroom of smoke. The debris was flying everywhere.

Iraq says that it's going to fight this, among other things, by using suicide bombers and volunteers from other countries. I spoke with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, who said it was natural and that they had come from many different Muslim countries. He also said that there would be more attacks; that the attack that was carried out against U.S. soldiers was just the beginning of this.

Ted Koppel, with the 3rd Infantry Division in central Iraq 8 a.m. ET; 4 p.m. Iraq

It has been a long, and at times, frustrating drive north for the 3rd Infantry Division. They have had to deal with Somalia-style technical attacks by irregular forces mounted on pickup trucks and driving private cars. But now they've had some major engagements with elements of at least one and possibly two Republican Guard divisions. Consequently, it has been a satisfying night for the 3rd Infantry's 2nd Brigade. They have seized a bridge across the Euphrates River at the town of Hindiyah. Commanders report that the Iraqis have been using human shields, again a tactic that they've adopted from what was used against U.S. troops in Somalia.

Mike Cerre, with the 1st Marine Division, south of Baghdad 8 a.m. ET; 4 p.m. Iraq

The biggest concern for the Marines is they have yet to confront Iraqi mainline soldiers and they are now dealing with Fedayeen and local militia who are dressed in civilian clothes, and so the rules of engagement are somewhat vague and they have to make some quick determinations on the spot as to friendly or foe.

Bob Schmidt, with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division in central Iraq 7 a.m. ET; 3 p.m. Iraq

All the way up and all they way down, huge convoys were rolling through from time to time, so there is movement here. The question is, can the forward movement be matched by some forward movement in supplies? Things like food and water are getting scarce out here at the front.

There has been lull here on the ground the past week or so; some objectives have been taken here by the 3rd Infantry Division. Most of the action — we see it here at night — has been on the part of the Air Force. We're told that there's been some catastrophic damage inflicted in airstrikes, for example, Iraq's Republican Guard. Right now, even as I speak to you out here in the desert, there is a plane going over, possibly headed up toward Baghdad.

Bob Woodruff, with the Marines' 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in central Iraq6 a.m. ET; 2 p.m. Iraq

The Marines have come across a large depot of Iraqi weapons that the Iraqis appear to have left behind very quickly as the Marines moved in — 46 separate buildings filled with ammunition, from rocket-propelled grenades to tank rounds, artillery rounds and even land mines. They believe this may explain some of the fierce fighting in this area over the last four or five days, that the Iraqi paramilitary groups may have been fighting to protect this particular arms cache from the Marines.

After sitting in one place for about three days, the Marine unit that I am with now is on the move again. I can't give you any location in particular, but as we all know, we are moving further north toward Baghdad. I am not clear whether this is a final push toward the Iraqi capital or not, but after a few days of sitting, these Marines feel good about being on the road again.