Battle of Umm Qasr

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Battle of Umm Qasr

Part of 2003 Invasion of Iraq

M1A1 Abrams tank fires its 120mm cannon during fighting near Umm Qasr

Date	March 21 - March 25, 2003
Location	Umm Qasr, Iraq
Result	Coalition victory

Belligerents

Iraq

Coalition Forces:

Casualties and losses

Unknown

14 KIA^[1]

v • d • e Iraq War

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

The Battle of Umm Qasr was the first military confrontation in the Iraq War. At the start of the Second Gulf War, one of the first objectives was the port of Umm Qasr. On March 21, 2003, Allied forces advanced across Southern Iraq and US marines captured the new port part of Umm Qasr, spending several more days in fighting through the old town part of Umm Qasr encountering fierce resistance.

The assault on the town's port was spearheaded by the US 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the British Royal Marines and the Polish GROM troops, but Iraqi forces put up unexpectedly strong resistance, requiring several days' fighting before the area was cleared of defenders.^[2] After the waterway was de-mined by Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FOURTEEN Detachment ONE and Naval Special Clearance Team ONE of the U.S. Navy and reopened, Umm Qasr played an important role in the shipment of humanitarian supplies to Iraqi civilians.^[3]

The port was declared safe and open on March 25th 2003, after Royal Marines took over control of the port and conducted raids into the old part of town.

Coalition minesweepers, including HMS Bangor aided by divers and US Navy MH-53E helicopters and trained dolphins and seals located and cleared the approach to the port of mines allowing RFA Sir Galahad to dock after a couple of days.