194                                   U.S. MARINES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 199~1991

tion of humanitarian intent Marines erected 12 refugee tents before nightfall on
20 April in what was to ultimately become one of the largest resettlement camps
ever built.  Patience and firmness paid off within a few days as the Iraqi Army
issued ordors to withdraw.   By nightfall on 23 April, Marines occupied the key
positions and road network around the city.
   MajGen Garner and his JTF-B staff were headquartered along with the
command element of the 24th MEU(SOC) in the deserted headquarters of the
Iraqi 44th Infantry Division. Garner immediately directed the bridge and road
leading from the border to Zakhu to be opened for traffic. This was particularly
significant as the Habur Bridge at the border would become the only means by
which surface convoys could pass from Turkey into Iraq.
   On 22 April, LtCol Jonathan Thompson, commanding officer, 45th Com-
mando, Royal Marines (United Kingdom), and LtCol Cees Van Egmond, 1st Air
Combat Group, Royal Netherlands Marines, reported for duty to MajGen
Garner, who placed both units under the tactical control of the 24th MEU(SOC).
With a total force of 3,400 Marines from three nations, MajGen Garner lost no
time in developing a plan to rid Zakhu of Iraqi oppression.
   Zakhu, a city of 150,000 under normal times, was a ghost town when coa-
lition forces arrived there on 20 April. Fewer than 2,000 inhabitants remained.
Those missing were still in the mountain camps of southern Turkey.        Their
homes had been looted and vandalized by the Iraqi Army, which continued
pillaging local towns and villages as it retreated south.
   Despite agreeing to withdraw his army, Saddarn was not about to surrender
Zakhu without a last effort to retain control of the city.  He did so by ordering
300 "policemen" into Zakhu to maintain law and order and protect coalition
forces from Kurdish rebels.   Clearly, the few residents left in Zakhu were still
being terrorized. Something had to be done.
   Col Richard Naab, USA, the recently assigned head of the Military Coor-
dination Committee, met daily with BGen Danoun Nashwan of the Iraqi Army
to explain coalition intent and expectations. After several meetings, a demarche
was drafted and released on 24 April. Its key points are listed below:

   Iraqi armed forces will continue to withdraw to a point 30 kilometers in all
directions from Zakhu (in other words, out of artillery range).

   Iraqi police will be immediately withdrawn from Zakhu.

   Iraq will be allowed no more than 50 uniformed policemen in Zalthu at any
one time.    They would have to be indigenous to the region, carry only one
pistol, and display coalition force identification badges at all times.

   On 26 April coalition forces will enter Zalthu for the purpose of verifying
compliance and would begin to regularly patrol the city.