Battle of Hillah (2003)

Battle of Al Hillah (2003)
Part of 2003 Invasion of Iraq

US Marines in Al Hillah
Date31 March – 2 April 2003
Location
Result

U.S. victory

  • Destruction of the Medina Division.
Belligerents
 United States
 United Kingdom
 Poland
 Iraq
Commanders and leaders
United States Joseph Anderson
United Kingdom Brian Burridge
Iraq Unknown
Units involved

United States 10th Mountain Division
United States 1st Marine Division
United States 101st Airborne Division


United Kingdom Royal Air Force


Poland JW GROM
2nd Al Medina Armored Division
Strength
Tens of thousands ≈10,000
Casualties and losses
1 killed
wounded unknown
8 attack helicopters damaged
1,200+ killed & wounded
2 field artillery batteries destroyed
1 AA battery destroyed
1 armoured company destroyed
1 infantry battalion destroyed
551 Iraqi civilian casualties (19 killed, 515 wounded, 17 unspecified)
Civilian casualties resulted from heavy barrage by the 2nd Al Medina Armored Division on densely populated urban areas (Coalition forces were attempting to move through the area at the time of the attack)

The Battle of Al Hillah was an armed military confrontation between military elements of the United States and Iraq during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Prior to the Iraq War, the ancient city of Al Hillah was home to numerous bases for the Iraqi Medina division of the Iraqi Republican Guard. As a main objective of the invasion of Iraq was to disable the Republican Guard, this made Al Hillah an important target for Coalition forces, as well as the fact that Al Hillah lay in the path of the planned Coalition advance Najaf.[1]