No huge events today. Plenty of small skirmishes with irregular Iraqi resistance, faked surrenders, and ambushes. This has been particularly notable (and deadly) in the continuing assaults on Allied troops holding the bridges of the town of Nasiriyah.

Two Apache pilots have been captured by the Iraqis when their helicopter went down after an attack on the Medina Republican Guard division near Baghdad.

3ID is beginning to engage elements of the Republican Guard on the outskirts of Baghdad. Marines are rapidly moving north to join them in surrounding the capital. It's unclear how much of the RG or SRG is inside the city itself, and how much is in fixed fortifications on the outskirts. Reports are that orders have been given to Iraqi troops to use chemical weapons if the Allies forces get within a certain distance of Baghdad.

There have been Allied casualties throughout the day. Not many, but some. In all likelihood, there will be many more in the next several days, as the main battle for Baghdad is joined. US troops are outnumbered, with at least three Iraqi Republican Guard divisions in and around the capitol. Even with substantial aerial and artillery bombardment, the task of clearing these forces will be difficult unless the Iraqis surrender.

Links via those groovy kids over at The Command Post, and Google News of course.