Your article says the 173rd dropped into Bashur. That is a small town/base about 75 kilometers (50 miles +/-) northeast of the Kurdish city of Irbil (aka Arbil on some maps). Since these guys are not very close to Turkey, you can suppose that their operation is to establish a forward, second front base, for offensive action.
Here is another little clip: Note they also mention the 82nd Airborne.
The 173rd Airborne Brigade deployed to Northern Iraq and is reported to be in position to block any possible invasion by Turkey. The U.S. military has abandoned plans to fly troops into northern Iraq over Turkey and is beginning to ferry them there through Egyptian and Saudi Arabian airspace. Turkey demanded access to northern Iraq for more Turkish troops than the United States would agree to. There are a few thousand troops inside northern Iraq, lightly armed and are stationed near the border.
The 173rd, based in Italy. first deployed to Egypt and then were flown into US airbases in northern Iraq developed by the Kurds and Special Forces prior to the opening of hostilities. Elements of the 82nd airborne and Special Forces are also in northern Iraq working with the Kurds in an operation reminiscent of the Afghanistan War. With increased firepower in the region, air operations escalated in Kirkuk. Elements of the 82nd Airborne are also deploying in the north.
http://efreedomnews.com/News%20Archive/Iraq/Iraq%20War%20Report/WarReport24March2003.htm