MOSCOW. March 18 (Interfax-AVN) - Units of the U.S. 18th Airborne Corps will start combat operations against Iraq without waiting for the end of the 48-hour-long ultimatum declared by President George W. Bush, former Russian airborne commander Colonel General Nikolai Kalinin told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"Units of the 18th Airborne Corps deployed in the Gulf area within the U.S. Army grouping are likely to be engaged in combat operations 15-20 hours before the ultimatum expires," Kalinin said.
He noted that it was paratroopers of the 18th Corps what started combat operations in Iraq "15 hours before it was planned" during the Gulf War of 1991.
"Back then units of the 101st Airborne Assault division made the deepest air maneuver in the history of all wars, thus ensuring the suddenness of the strike on the Iraqi Armed Forces rear," Kalinin stressed.
He said that units of the 18th corps are capable "of conducting independent combat operations for three to seven days."
"American paratroopers are well-trained for operations in hot climate and have rich combat experience. Units of the corps have carefully mastered methods of conducting combat actions together with U.S. special operations units," Kalinin said.
The 17th Airborne Corps headquartered in Fort Bragg, NC, consists of four divisions, these being the 10th Light Infantry Division, 24th Motorized Division, 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Assault Division, as well as of six brigades and combat and logistics support units. It totals 64,000 people.
The Corps is intended for quick relocation to various areas around the world and conduction of low- and medium-intensive operations. The commander of the Corps is Lieutenant General Dan K. McNeill. Units of the Corps were involved in combat operations in Grenade and Panama.