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5527
Special Ops: Journal of the Elite Forces & SWAT Units Vol.27 SPECIAL
Yves Debay
ISBN 962-361-067-X
64 pages, 188 photos
An Eyewitness Report
Operation Iraqi Freedom
VICTORY IN BAGHDAD
Our war correspondent
Yves Debay continued his "wildcat" mission in Iraq.
After his
release by the Fedayeen, Yves arrived the town of Al Mahmudiyah, there
he witnessed T-72s destroyed by US aerial tank hunters. South of the
town, Yves joined the column of 1-6 Armor with the M1A1 and Bradleys
advancing towards Baghdad, Along the way, Iraqi abandoned and destroyed
vehicles littered both sides of the road. North of Al Mahmudiyah,
Yves was able to photograph a Medevac operation.
On the outskirt
of Baghdad, Yves had a close encounter with the "Cajones Eh",
the much publicized destroyed M1A1, while it was burning. A charred
Humvee was also photographed.
The Marines
entered Baghdad on 9 April from the southwest. M1A1s, AAV-7s, Humvees
rolled into Baghdad as the "leathernecks" secured the streets.
An M88A2 Hercules made history as it dragged down the huge statue
of Saddam Hussein, captured by the lens of Yves.
Other parts
of Baghdad remained in Iraqi hands, as Fedayeen loyalists patrolled
the streets in front of Yves. The Marines finally managed to secure
all of Baghdad, and uncovered a lot of Iraqi materiel such as FROG-7,
BMP-2, Roland 2 as evidenced by the camera of Yves.
Next came
the 1st Armored Division and the 101st Airborne Division, in armor
and light transports. The arrival of these units marked the "fall"
of Baghdad. Yves then switched his attention to photograph destroyed
Iraqi armor in Baghdad, such as BMP-2, BMD-1, MT-LB, TOW jeep, M901
and AA guns.
Yves traveled
back south to report on the British forces at Basra. The clash of
armor between the British and the Iraqi was one-sided. Yves was able
to capture the images of destroyed T-55s and APCs, while Challenger
2s and Warriors roamed the city streets unchallenged.
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