The OIF GenerationA field guide to the Iraq War and the generation that fought it
Battles and Operations

Nasiriyah, March–April 2003

A destroyed Marine amphibious assault vehicle near Nasiriyah, March 2003.
A destroyed Marine amphibious assault vehicle near Nasiriyah, March 2003. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Edward D. Kniery (public domain)
Dates: March 23 – April 2, 2003. U.S. forces: Task Force Tarawa (2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade); 507th Maintenance Company. U.S. losses: 32 killed, 60 wounded, 6 captured.

The objective

Nasiriyah sat astride the Euphrates River and key bridges on the route north to Baghdad. Marines of Task Force Tarawa were ordered to secure the bridges so the bulk of the 1st Marine Division could pass through.

The ambush

On March 23, an Army maintenance convoy, the 507th Maintenance Company, made a wrong turn into the city and was ambushed. Soldiers were killed and several were taken prisoner. The same day, Marines fighting to seize the bridges met fierce resistance in the city, in a stretch that came to be called "Ambush Alley."

Through the city

On the night of March 24–25, the bulk of Regimental Combat Team 1 passed through the city and attacked north. Other units stayed to clear Nasiriyah, which resisted until April 1.

Significance

Nasiriyah inflicted heavier losses on American forces than most other engagements of the invasion and showed early that irregular fighters would not simply melt away.