How did U.S. forces advance toward Baghdad in March and April 2003?

Following the commencement of the Iraq War on March 20, 2003, U.S. and allied forces launched an invasion from Kuwait in the south. As ground forces drove northwestward up the Tigris-Euphrates river valley, they encountered resistance that was often poorly organized, primarily from irregular Saddam’s Fedayeen fighters.12

To maintain momentum, U.S. Army and Marine units bypassed many populated areas where resistance was strongest. The advance was briefly halted on March 25 due to inclement weather and extended supply lines, during which time U.S. aircraft targeted Republican Guard positions defending the capital.2

Resuming their movement within a week, U.S. forces secured Baghdad’s international airport on April 4 and staged raids into the city center. By April 9, organized resistance in the capital collapsed, and U.S. soldiers took control of the city. Meanwhile, in the north, U.S. Special Forces collaborated with Kurdish peshmerga fighters to seize key cities, leading to the fall of the final major stronghold, Tikrit, by April 13.21