Battle of Basra (2003)

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Part of 2003 Invasion of Iraq

Date	March 21 - April 6, 2003
Location	Basra, Iraq
Result	British victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Iraq

Casualties and losses

11 killed [1]

Unknown

v • d • e Iraq War

Invasion – Post-invasion (Insurgency – Civil war) Battles & operations – Bombings and terrorist attacks

For other battles of Basra, see Battle of Basra.

The Battle of Basra (March-April 2003) was one of the first battles of the invasion of Iraq. It pitched British and Iraqi forces.

The British 7 Armoured Brigade ('The Desert Rats') fought their way into Iraq's second-largest city, Basra, on 6 April, coming under constant attack by regulars and Fedayeen, while the British Red Devils cleared the 'old quarter' of the city that was inaccessible to vehicles. Entering Basra had only been achieved after two weeks of conflict, which included the biggest tank battle by British forces since World War II when the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards destroyed 14 Iraqi tanks on 27 March.