Many of the Republican Guard armored units held the last defenses in Baghdad. These Iraqi-built, Soviet T-72 "Asad Babil" (Lion of Babylon) tanks from the Medina Division sat in bunkers...
The Iraqi strategy was to use the Lions in ambush since they stood no chance against the M1A1 Abrams and M2 Bradleys. In the end, most were detected by Coalition Forces and wiped out by UH-64 Apache helicopters and A-10 Warthogs...
After the pre-invasion bombing of March 20th, the bulk of the ground resistance was led by dismounted Iraqi infantry firing mortars and light artillery from trenches situated along the BIAP complex...
Their positions often riddled with light arms fire...
Irony of lessons not learned: The new Iraqi government decided to buy refitted T-72 tanks in order to equip a new armored brigade. Some surviving Lions are used to instruct the new Iraqi tank recruits. The training and experience of the old Iraqi Army officers and crews was the reason behind the choice for the "Asad Babil."
