US Marines Assault Iraq Republican Guard Compound in 2003 [India Company, 3/7 Marines] | No Copyright Intended | March 2003. The invasion of Iraq had begun days earlier and US forces were pushing hard toward Baghdad through some of the most uncertain and psychologically brutal conditions of the entire war. This is India Company, 3rd Battalion 7th Marines assaulting an Iraqi Republican Guard compound on the outskirts of the capital; one of the most elite and loyal units Saddam Hussein had left standing between the Americans and Baghdad. What makes this footage particularly striking is the context surrounding it. At this exact moment in the war the Iraqi Army still existed, Baghdad had not yet fallen and Marine infantrymen were being fed continuous intelligence that Iraqi forces were preparing chemical weapon attacks against advancing coalition troops. Every Marine in this footage was pushing forward not knowing whether the next contact would involve nerve agents, mustard gas or conventional fire. The Republican Guard had been the backbone of Saddam’s military for decades; battle hardened, ideologically committed and defending their capital. India Company went through them anyway. Baghdad fell on April 9th 2003… #TacticalArchives #fyp #military #america #iraq - @tacticalarchives_