The intention was to catch the Medina Division from behind, while they were engaging other units to their front.

The Medina Division ceased to exist as an effective fighting force.

The Medina Division sustained only limited damage during the engagement, and it is considered the Iraq's only victory of the invasion.

The helicopters scattered in search of the Medina Division, but were hampered by poor intelligence.

Today, American warplanes bombed the Medina Division, which is defending one approach.

The three men said they had been stationed with other members of the Medina Division at Dorra, a town near Baghdad.

In addition to the Medina Division, the Nida is to the east and the Hammurabi to the west.

As the Medina Division has been pounded from the air, Iraqi ground forces have been moving south to fill the gaps in the division's position.

They were already engaged in preliminary artillery exchanges with the Medina Division, military officials said.

Army officers said tonight that the expected clash with the Medina Division south of Baghdad would be the most important engagement thus far in the war.