On 9 April 2003, Lt Col Brian McCoy, in charge of the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines, was told by a journalist at the Palestine Hotel that there were no Iraqi forces in Firdos Square.

2003年4月9日，一名记者告知海军第四陆战队第三营的指挥官布莱恩·麦考伊中校佛多斯广场没有伊拉克军队。