Karbala: Sandstorms slowed US and British forces to a crawl and thwarted air missions on March 25 as US-led forces edged closer to the Iraqi capital. Baghdad residents, hunkered down for an eventual battle, woke to howling winds and the distant crash of artillery.

Combat missions from two aircraft carriers were called back due to bad weather. At least a dozen planes returned without reaching Iraq. Two Army divisions were virtually stalled in a vicious sandstorm that reduced visibility to a few feet.

Iraq often sees sandstorms in the spring, but the March 25 were an "exceptional storm" for the region, bringing dust and sand from as far away as Egypt and Libya, AccuWeather meteorologist John Gresiak said. He said muddy rain was likely later on March 25, lighter winds on March 26 and then no major sandstorms for at least several days.

Thousands of Marines were trekking toward Baghdad, taking backroads to avoid civilians, but they travelled only about 32 km in five hours with visibility at about 10 feet. A traffic jam of military and supply vehicles was buffeted by heavy winds and blowing sand.

US warplanes and helicopters came under heavy fire during their first attacks on Saddam Hussein's elite ground units, while tenacious resistance kept the coalition from securing key cities in Southern Iraq.

More US Marines moved toward the Iraqi capital, taking safer dirt roads to avoid civilians. The Army's 3rd Infantry Division was within 80 km of the capital.

Republican Guard units defending Baghdad came under attack from ground and air forces. American artillery barrages typically lasted a half-hour followed by a break as the gunners took aim at another target.