URBAN WARFARE
Urban warfare historically has been among the most difficult operations for an offensive force. Despite the apparent withdrawal by most Iraqis from Kuwait city, there still could be house-to-house combat to clear pockets of resistance, U.S. military officials say.
* THE PROBLEM. Even a few entrenched Iraqi troops could turn city blocks and buildings into highly defensible fortresses.
* CLEARING OBSTACLES. Engineers would be asked to clear streets of bombs, barbed wire and other obstacles. Their special weapons for city battle would include explosive charges, shoulder-fired grenade launchers and flamethrowers.
* DECLARING TARGETS. Paratroopers can be helicoptered to rooftops to take buildings from the top down. Pinpoint bombing from the air can take out specific buildings.
MAJOR URBAN BATTLES
* Stalingrad in World War II
* Manila in World War II
* Berlin in World War II
* Seoul in Korean War
* Saigon and Hue in Vietnam War
* Jerusalem in 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
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