On The Scene: Hades On The Euphrates

Retreating Iraqi Troops Torch Southern Oil Fields

(CBS)  One of the early successes of this war was the capture of Iraq's southern oil-fields in a rapid action that limited destruction to only a few wells.

But U.S. forces have discovered more threats than just burning oil, reports CBS News Correspondent Lee Cowan, who is embedded with U.S. Special Operations forces.

They're calling it "Hades on the Euphrates" - 3,000-degree infernos ignited by retreating Iraqi troops.

But CBS News has now been told, they left behind even more.

"The Iraqi soldiers have recently placed anti-personnel and anti-tank mines in and around parts of the oil fields and the oil wells," said Lt. Commander Vince Martinez.

"My biggest challenge has been getting water," said Brian Krause, one of the firefighters working on the blazes.

So if capping these fires wasn't hard enough, now U.S. Marines have to comb an area roughly the size of Delaware to see what else the Iraqis have in store.

"It is a very dangerous mission," said Brig. General Robert Crear.

Cowan reports that securing Iraq's oil fields had always been a top priority for the U.S., and for good reason. Had more of Iraq's oil resources gone up in flames, so too would the cost to rebuild.

If they're lucky the oil fires may be out by the end of the week, but Saddam Hussein's handiwork may remain in these fields for months.