Battle of Umm Qasr

Battle of Umm Qasr
Part of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
A U.S. Marine M1 Abrams tank fires its 120mm cannon at Iraqi forces during fighting near Umm Qasr, 23 March 2003.
Date 21–25 March 2003 Location Umm Qasr, Iraq Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  United States  Poland	Iraq
Commanders and leaders
Jim Dutton[1] Roman Polko	Ali Ibrahim Haitham Badran Khalid Kasar
Units involved
3 Commando Brigade 15th MEU Navy SEALs Navy SWCC JW GROM	Iraqi Republican Guard
Casualties and losses
14 killed[2]	30–40 killed 450 captured[3]

The Battle of Umm Qasr was the first military confrontation in the Iraq War. At the start of the war, one of the first objectives was the port of Umm Qasr. On 21 March 2003, as allied forces advanced across Southern Iraq, an amphibious landing force captured the new port area of Umm Qasr. The assault was spearheaded by Royal Marines of the British 3 Commando Brigade, augmented by U.S. Marines of the American 15th MEU and Polish JW GROM troops. Iraqi forces in the old town of Umm Qasr put up unexpectedly strong resistance, requiring several days' fighting before the area was cleared of defenders.^[4] The port was finally declared safe and reopened on 25 March 2003.