- NEAR NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters)
- A sandstorm was blowing in over U.S. troops advancing on Baghdad early
on Tuesday, cutting visibility and hampering operations, a Reuters reporter
with the forces said.
-
- "The southerly wind has picked up overnight and
visibility this morning is down to about 500 meters (yards)," Luke
Baker said from a position with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division near Najaf,
100 miles south of the Iraqi capital.
-
- "The officers say they expect it to get worse. That
could make it hard for the helicopters to fly today."
-
- In Baghdad itself, the strengthening wind also blew up
dust, clouding the sky, cooling temperatures and, combined with oil fires
that are still blazing, reduced visibility, a Reuters correspondent said
from the city.
-
- Senior U.S. commanders in the Gulf forecast on Monday
that coming sandstorms could pose a major problem for several days.
-
- U.S. troops have approached as close as 62 miles from
Baghdad. Officers said an Apache attack helicopter was lost in the night
from Sunday to Monday during an attack by several dozen helicopters on
Iraqi Republican Guard positions near Kerbala.
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