Jump to content

Main menu Navigation ●Main page ●Contents ●Current events ●Random article ●About Wikipedia ●Contact us ●Donate Contribute ●Help ●Learn to edit ●Community portal ●Recent changes ●Upload file

●Create account ●Log in ●Create account ● Log in Pages for logged out editors learn more ●Contributions ●Talk

Editing Battle of Khafji

●Article ●Talk ●Read ●Edit ●View history Tools Actions ●Read ●Edit ●View history General ●What links here ●Related changes ●Upload file ●Special pages ●Page information ●Get shortened URL ●Download QR code ●Wikidata item Appearance

You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log inorcreate an account, your edits will be attributed to a username, among other benefits.

Content that violates any copyrights will be deleted. Encyclopedic content must be verifiable through citations to reliable sources.

You are about to undo an edit. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.

If you are undoing an edit that is not vandalism, explain the reason in the edit summary. Do not use the default message only.

{{Short description|1991 battle of the Gulf War}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Khafji
| partof = the [[Gulf War]]
| image = Battle of Khafji 1991.svg{{!}}border
| image_size = 300
| caption = Map of military operations during the liberation of Khafji{{image reference needed|date=December 2022}}
| date = 29 January – 1 February 1991 ({{Age in months, weeks and days|month1=01|day1=29|year1=1991|month2=02|day2=01|year2=1991}})
| place = {{nowrap|[[Khafji]], [[Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia|Eastern Province]], [[Saudi Arabia]]}} {{coord|28.425|N|48.500|E|region:SA_type:event|display=inline,title}}
| result = Coalition victory
* Coalition recaptures Khafji after two-day Iraqi occupation
| combatant1 = {{flag|United States}} {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} {{flag|Qatar}} {{flag|Kuwait}} 
| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Ba'athist Iraq|1991}}
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Khalid bin Sultan]] {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Turki Abdulmohsin al-Firmi {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Sultan Adi al-Mutairi {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Hamid Matar {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia|Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz]] 
| commander2 = {{nowrap|{{flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq|1991}} [[Saddam Hussein]]}} {{flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq|1991}} [[Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri / Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/al-douri.htm |access-date=5 August 2016 |archive-date=5 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905174938/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/al-douri.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> {{flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq|1991}} [[Salah Aboud Mahmoud]]
| units1 = {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [[Saudi Arabian National Guard|2nd SANG Brigade]] {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Royal Saudi Marine Battalion {{flagicon|Qatar}} Qatar Tank Battalion {{flag|United States}} [[1st Marine Division]] {{flag|United States}} [[2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion|2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion]], [[2nd Marine Division]]
| units2 = {{flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq|1991}} [[1st Division (Iraq)|1st Mechanised Division]] {{flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq|1991}} [[3rd Division (Iraq)|3rd Armoured Division]] {{flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq|1991}} [[5th Division (Iraq)|5th Mechanised Division]]
| casualties1 = ''''' Coalition estimate''''': 43 killed (11 from friendly fire) 52 wounded 2 captured<ref name="Westermeyer132" /><ref name="Stanton10" /> 9–12 armoured vehicles lost 1 [[AC-130]] shot down
| casualties2 = '''''Iraqi claims''''': 71 killed 148 wounded 702 missing 186 armoured vehicles destroyed '''''Saudi Arabian estimate''''': 60–300 killed 400 captured 90 armoured vehicles destroyed<ref name="Westermeyer132" /><ref name="Stanton10" />
}}
{{Campaignbox Gulf War}}

The '''Battle of Khafji''' was the first major ground engagement of the [[Gulf War]]. It took place in and around the Saudi Arabian city of [[Khafji]], from 29 January to 1 February 1991.

Iraqi leader [[Saddam Hussein]], who had already tried and failed to draw Coalition forces into costly ground engagements by shelling Saudi Arabian positions and oil storage tanks and [[Iraqi rocket attacks on Israel|firing]] [[Scud]] surface-to-surface missiles at [[Israel]], ordered the invasion of [[Saudi Arabia]] from southern [[Kuwait]]. The [[1st Division (Iraq)|1st]] and [[5th Division (Iraq)|5th Mechanized Division]]s and [[3rd Division (Iraq)|3rd Armored Division]] were ordered to conduct a multi-pronged invasion toward Khafji, engaging Saudi Arabian, [[Kuwait]]i, and U.S. forces along the coastline, with a supporting Iraqi commando force ordered to infiltrate further south by sea and harass the Coalition's rear.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a360696.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128060231/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a360696.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=28 January 2020 |title=The Battle of Khafji: An Overview and Preliminary Analysis |last=Titus |first=James |date=1996 |website=Defense Technical Information Center |access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref>

These three divisions, which had suffered significant losses from attacks by Coalition aircraft in the preceding days, attacked on 29 January. Most of their attacks were repulsed by [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] and [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] forces but one of the Iraqi columns occupied Khafji on the night of 29–30 January. Between 30 January and 1 February, two [[Saudi Arabian National Guard]] battalions and two Qatari tank companies attempted to retake control of the city, aided by Coalition aircraft and U.S. artillery. By 1 February, the city had been recaptured at the cost of 43 Coalition servicemen dead and 52 wounded. Iraqi Army fatalities numbered between 60 and 300, while an estimated 400 were captured as [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]].

Although the invasion of Khafji was initially a propaganda victory for the [[Ba'athist Iraq]]i regime, it was swiftly recaptured by Coalition forces. The battle demonstrated the ability of air power to support ground forces.

==Background==
On 2 August 1990, the [[Iraqi Army]] invaded and occupied the neighboring state of [[Kuwait]].<ref name="Lewis481">Lewis, p. 481.</ref> The invasion, which followed the inconclusive [[Iran–Iraq War]] and three decades of political conflict with Kuwait, offered Saddam Hussein the opportunity to distract political dissent at home and add Kuwait's oil resources to Iraq's own, a boon in a time of declining petroleum prices.<ref>Halliday, p. 226. At the time, Iraq's own reserves were second only to Saudi Arabia's.</ref>

In response, the United Nations began to pass a series of resolutions demanding the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait.<ref>Perrett, p. 199.</ref> Afraid that [[Saudi Arabia]] would be invaded next, the Saudi Arabian government requested immediate military aid.<ref>Perrett, pp. 199–200.</ref> As a result, the United States began marshalling forces from a variety of nations, styled the [[Coalition of the Gulf War|Coalition]], on the [[Arabian peninsula]].<ref>Halliday, p. 223.</ref> Initially, Saddam Hussein attempted to deter Coalition military action by threatening Kuwait's and Iraq's petroleum production and export. In December 1990, Iraq experimented with the use of explosives to destroy wellheads in the area of the Ahmadi loading complex, developing their capability to destroy Kuwait's petroleum infrastructure on a large scale. On 16 January, Iraqi artillery destroyed an oil storage tank in Khafji, Saudi Arabia, and on 19 January the pumps at the Ahmadi loading complex were opened, pouring crude oil into the [[Persian Gulf]]. The oil flowed into the sea at a rate of {{convert|200,000|oilbbl|m3}} a day, becoming one of the worst ecological disasters to that date.<ref>Freedman & Karsh, p. 29.</ref>

Despite these Iraqi threats, the Coalition launched a 38-day aerial campaign on 17 January 1991.<ref name="Lewis481" /> Flying an estimated 2,000 sorties a day,<ref>Freedman & Karsh, pp. 24–25.</ref> Coalition aircraft rapidly crippled the Iraqi air defense systems and effectively destroyed the [[Iraqi Air Force]],<ref>Biddle, pp. 144–145.</ref> whose daily sortie rate plummeted from a prewar level of an estimated 200 per day to almost none by 17 January.<ref>Freedman & Karsh, p. 27.</ref> On the third day of the campaign, many Iraqi pilots fled across the Iranian border in their aircraft rather than be destroyed.<ref>Freedman & Karsh, pp. 27–28.</ref> The air campaign also targeted command-and-control sites, bridges, railroads, and petroleum storage facilities.<ref>Lewis, pp. 493–495.</ref>

Saddam Hussein, who is believed to have said, "The air force has never decided a war," nevertheless worried that the air campaign would erode Iraq's national morale. The Iraqi leader also believed that the United States would not be willing to lose many troops in action, and therefore sought to draw Coalition ground troops into a decisive battle.<ref>Freedman & Karsh, p. 28.</ref> In an attempt to provoke a ground battle, he directed Iraqi forces to launch [[Scud]] missiles against [[Israel]], while continuing to threaten the destruction of oilfields in Kuwait.<ref>Freedman & Karsh, pp. 29–30.</ref> These efforts were unsuccessful in provoking a large ground battle,<ref>Freedman & Karsh, p. 30.</ref> so Saddam Hussein decided to launch a limited offensive into Saudi Arabia with the aim of inflicting heavy losses on the Coalition armies.<ref>Titus, p. 4.</ref>

As the air campaign continued, the Coalition's expectations of an Iraqi offensive decreased. As a result, the United States redeployed the [[XVIII Airborne Corps (United States)|XVIII Airborne Corps]] and the [[VII Corps (United States)|VII Corps]] 480&nbsp;kilometers (300&nbsp;mi) to the west. The Coalition's leadership believed that should an Iraqi force go on the offensive, it would be launched from the al-Wafra oil fields, in Southern Kuwait.<ref>Titus, p. 5.</ref>

==Order of battle==

[[Image:DesertStormMap v2.svg|thumb|Coalition and Iraqi units deployed in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations, as of 24–28 February 1991.]]
The Iraqi Army had between 350,000 and 500,000 soldiers in theater,<ref>Freedman & Karsh, p. 13; post-war estimates put Iraqi personnel at around 350,000, while prior to the war the Coalition estimated a strength of around 540,000 soldiers.</ref> organized into 51 divisions, including eight [[Iraqi Republican Guard|Republican Guard]] divisions.<ref name="Press13">Press, p. 13.</ref> Republican Guard units normally received the newest equipment;<ref name="Press13" /> for example, most of the estimated 1,000 [[T-72]] tanks in the Iraqi Army on the eve of the war were in Republican Guard divisions.<ref name="Zaloga38">Zaloga (1993), p. 38.</ref> The Iraqi Army in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations (KTO) also included nine heavy divisions, composed mostly of professional soldiers, but with weapons of a generally lesser grade than those issued to the Republican Guard.<ref>Press, pp. 13–14.</ref>

Most non-Republican Guard armored units had older tank designs, mainly the [[T-54/55|T-55]] or its Chinese equivalents, the [[Type 59 tank|Type 59]] and [[Type 69 tank|Type 69]].<ref>Zaloga (2004), p. 42.</ref> The remaining 34 divisions were composed of poorly trained conscripts. These divisions were deployed to channel the Coalition's forces through a number of break points along the front, allowing the Iraqi Army's heavy divisions and the Republican Guard units to isolate them and counterattack.<ref>Press, p. 14.</ref> However, the Iraqis left their western flank open, failing to account for tactics made possible by the [[Global Positioning System]] and other new technologies.<ref>Press, pp. 14–15.</ref>

In Saudi Arabia, the Coalition originally deployed over 200,000 soldiers, 750 aircraft and 1,200 tanks.<ref>Williams, pp. 5–6.</ref> This quickly grew to 3,600 tanks and over 600,000 personnel,<ref>Perrett, p. 200.</ref> of whom over 500,000 were from the United States.<ref>CNN, ''Gulf War Facts''.</ref>

===Iraqi forces===
Earmarked for the offensive into Saudi Arabia was the Iraqi Third Corps,<ref name="Williams, p. 3">Williams, p. 3.</ref> the [[1st Division (Iraq)|1st Mechanized Division]] from Fourth Corps and a number of commando units.<ref>Mahnken & Watts, p. 155.</ref> Third Corps, commanded by Major General Salah Aboud Mahmoud (who would also command the overall offensive), had the [[3rd Division (Iraq)|3rd Armored Division]] and [[5th Division (Iraq)|5th Mechanized Division]],<ref name="Williams, p. 3"/> as well as a number of infantry divisions. Fourth Corps' commander was Major General Ayad Khalil Zaki. The 3rd Armored Division had a number of T-72 tanks, the only non-Republican Guard force to have them,<ref name="Zaloga38" /> while the other armored battalions had [[T-62]]s and T-55s,<ref name="Westermeyer5" /> a few of which had an Iraqi appliqué armor similar to the Soviet [[Reactive armour#Non-explosive and non-energetic reactive armour|bulging armor]] also known as "brow" laminate armor or BDD.

During the battle of Khafji, these upgraded T-55s survived impacts from [[MILAN|MILAN anti-tank missiles]].<ref>Zaloga (2004), p. 36.</ref> These divisions also had armored personnel vehicles such as the [[BMP-1]], scout vehicles such as the [[BRDM-2]], and several types of artillery.<ref name="Westermeyer5" /> Also deployed along this portion of the front, though not chosen to participate in the invasion, were five infantry divisions that were under orders to remain in their defensive positions along the border.<ref name="Westermeyer5">Westermeyer, p. 5.</ref>

[[Image:T-55AD 1 Bovington.jpg|thumb|An Iraqi modification of the [[T-54/55|T-55]] tank, codename ''Enigma'', used during the battle]]
[[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] reconnaissance estimated that the Iraqi Army had amassed around 60,000 troops across the border, near the Kuwaiti town of Wafra, in as many as 5 or 6 divisions.<ref name="Williams13">Williams, p. 13.</ref> Infantry divisions normally consisted of three brigades with an attached commando unit, although some infantry divisions could have up to eight brigades–however most infantry divisions along the border were understrength, primarily due to [[desertion]].<ref>Rottman, p. 51.</ref>

Armored and mechanized divisions normally made use of three brigades, with each brigade having up to four combat battalions; depending on the division type, these were generally a three to one mix, with either three mechanized battalions and one armored battalion, or vice versa.<ref>Rottman, pp. 51–52.</ref> Given the size of the forces deployed across the border, it is thought that the Iraqi Army planned to continue the offensive, after the successful capture of Khafji, in order to seize the valuable oil fields at Dammam.<ref name="Williams13" />

The attack would consist of a four-prong offensive. The 1st Mechanized Division would pass through the 7th and 14th Infantry Divisions to protect the flank of the 3rd Armored Division, which would provide a blocking force west of Khafji while the 5th Mechanized Division took the town. The 1st Mechanized and 3rd Armored divisions would then retire to Kuwait, while the 5th Mechanized Division would wait until the Coalition launched a counteroffensive. The principal objectives were to inflict heavy casualties on the attacking Coalition soldiers and take prisoners of war, who Saddam Hussein theorized would be an excellent bargaining tool with the Coalition.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 5–6.</ref>

As the units moved to the [[Kuwait–Saudi Arabia border|Saudi Arabian border]], many were attacked by Coalition aircraft. Around the Al-Wafrah forest, about 1,000 Iraqi armored fighting vehicles were attacked by [[Harrier jump jet|Harrier]] aircraft with [[CBU-100 Cluster Bomb|Rockeye cluster bombs]].<ref>Williams, pp. 14–15.</ref> Another Iraqi convoy of armored vehicles was hit by [[A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10s]], which destroyed the first and last vehicles, before systematically attacking the stranded remainders.<ref>Williams, p. 15.</ref> Such air raids prevented the majority of the Iraqi troops deployed for the offensive from taking part in it.<ref>Williams, p. 16.</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:left;" summary="Characteristics of Iraqi armored fighting vehicles at Khafji"
|+ Iraqi armored fighting vehicles at Khafji
|- style="vertical-align:bottom; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
!
! style="text-align:left;" | [[T-72]]<ref name=Zaloga28>Zaloga (1993), p. 28.</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[T-55]]<ref>Zaloga (2004), p. 29.</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[T-62]]<ref>Zaloga (1979), p. 20.</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[BMP-1]]<ref name=Zaloga28/>
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Weight
| 37.6 [[Tonne|t]] (41.5&nbsp;[[short ton]]s)
| 36&nbsp;t (39.7&nbsp;tons)
| 40&nbsp;t (44&nbsp;tons)
| 13.9&nbsp;t (15.3&nbsp;tons)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Gun
| 125&nbsp;mm 2A46D smoothbore (4.92&nbsp;inches)
| 100&nbsp;mm D-10T2S rifled (3.94&nbsp;in)
| 115&nbsp;mm U-5T smoothbore (4.53&nbsp;in)
| 73&nbsp;mm 2A2B Grom Low-pressure gun (2.9&nbsp;in)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Ammunition
| 44 rounds
| 43 rounds
| 40 rounds
| 40 rounds
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Road&nbsp;range
| 480&nbsp;km (300&nbsp;miles)
| 500&nbsp;km (310.7&nbsp;mi)
| 300–450&nbsp;km (186–279&nbsp;mi)
| 500&nbsp;km (310.7&nbsp;mi)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Engine output
| 780&nbsp;[[Horsepower|PS]] (573.7&nbsp;kW)
| 580&nbsp;PS (426.6&nbsp;kW)
| 580&nbsp;PS (426.6&nbsp;kW)
| 300&nbsp;PS (220.6&nbsp;kW)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Maximum speed
| 60&nbsp;km/h (37.3&nbsp;mph)
| 50&nbsp;km/h (30&nbsp;mph)
| 50&nbsp;km/h (30&nbsp;mph)
| 40&nbsp;km/h (24.9&nbsp;mph)
|}

===Coalition forces===
During the buildup of forces, the U.S. had built [[observation post]]s along the Kuwaiti-Saudi Arabian border to gather intelligence on Iraqi forces. These were manned by [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. Navy SEALs]], [[United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance]] and [[Special Forces (United States Army)|Army Special Forces]] personnel. Observation post 8 was farthest to the east, on the coast, and another seven observation posts were positioned each {{cvt|20|km|mi}} until the end of the "heel", the geographic panhandle of southernmost Kuwait. Observation posts 8 and 7 overlooked the coastal highway that ran to Khafji, considered the most likely invasion route of the city.<ref>Westermeyer, p. 9.</ref> [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] had three companies positioned at observation posts 4, 5 and 6 (Task Force Shepard), while the [[2nd Marine Division (United States)|2nd Marine Division]]'s [[2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion|2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion]] set up a screen between observation post 1 and the Al-Wafrah oil fields.<ref name="Westermeyer10">Westermeyer, p. 10.</ref> The U.S. Army's [[2nd Armored Division (United States)|2nd Armored Division]] provided its 1st Brigade to give the Marines some much needed armored support.

The Saudi Arabians gave responsibility for the defense of Khafji to the 2nd Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigade, attached to Task Force Abu Bakr. The 5th Battalion of the 2nd Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigade set up a screen north and west of Khafji, under observation post 7.<ref name="Westermeyer10" /> At the time, a Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigade could have up to four motorized battalions, each with three line companies. The brigade had a nominal strength of an estimated 5,000 soldiers.<ref>Stanton, pp. 6–7.</ref> The Saudi Arabians also deployed the Tariq Task Force, composed of Saudi Arabian marines, a Moroccan mechanized infantry battalion, and two Senegalese infantry companies. Two further task forces, Othman and Omar Task Forces, consisted of two Mechanized Ministry of Defense and Aviation Brigades, providing screens about {{cvt|3|km|mi}} south of the border. The road south of Khafji was covered by one battalion of Saudi Arabian National Guard supported by one battalion of Qatari tanks.<ref>Jamieson, p. 98.</ref> The country's main defenses were placed {{cvt|20|km|mi}} south of the screen.<ref name="Westermeyer10" />

The majority of the Arab contingent was led by General Khaled bin Sultan. The forces around Khafji were organized into the Joint Forces Command-East, while Joint Forces Command-North defended the border between observation post 1 and the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border.<ref>Westermeyer, p. 7.</ref>

[[Image:Kuwaitheel.svg|thumb|The "heel" of Kuwait.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:left;" summary="Characteristics of Coalition armored fighting vehicles at Khafji"
|+ Coalition armored fighting vehicles at Khafji
|- style="vertical-align:bottom; border-bottom:1px solid #999;"
!
! style="text-align:left;" | [[AMX-30]]<ref>Ogorkiewicz, p. 73.</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[Cadillac Gage Commando|V-150]]<ref>Zaloga & Loop, p. 43.</ref>
! style="text-align:left;" | [[LAV-25]]<ref>Foss, p. 396.</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Weight
| 36 [[Tonne|t]] (39.7&nbsp;[[short ton]]s)
| 10&nbsp;t (11.02&nbsp;tons)
| 16.3&nbsp;t (18&nbsp;tons)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Gun
| 105&nbsp;mm modele F1 rifled (4.13&nbsp;inches)
| 90&nbsp;mm Cockerill rifled (3.54&nbsp;i)
| 25&nbsp;mm autocannon (0.98&nbsp;in)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Ammunition
| 50 rounds
| 39 rounds
| 420 rounds
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Road&nbsp;range
| 600&nbsp;km (370&nbsp;mi)
| 643&nbsp;km (400&nbsp;mi)
| 660&nbsp;km (410&nbsp;mi)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Engine output
| 780&nbsp;[[Horsepower|PS]] (573.7&nbsp;kW)
| 202&nbsp;PS (148.6&nbsp;kW)
| 350&nbsp;PS (257.4&nbsp;kW)
|-
! style="text-align:right;" | Maximum speed
| 60&nbsp;km/h (37.3&nbsp;mph)
| 88&nbsp;km/h (54.7&nbsp;mph)
| 99&nbsp;km/h (61.5&nbsp;mph)
|}

==Battle==
On 27 January 1991, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein met in [[Basra]] with the two Iraqi army corps commanders who were to lead the operation, and Major General Salah Mahmoud told him that Khafji would be his by 30 January. During his return trip to [[Baghdad]], Saddam Hussein's convoy was attacked by Coalition aircraft; the Iraqi leader escaped unscathed.<ref name="Williams13" /><ref>Westermeyer, p. 11.</ref>

Throughout 28 January, the Coalition received a number of warnings suggesting an impending Iraqi offensive. The Coalition was flying two brand-new [[E-8 Joint STARS|E-8A]] Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft, which picked up the deployment and movement of Iraqi forces to the area opposite of Khafji.<ref>Titus, p. 6.</ref> Observation posts 2, 7 and 8 also detected heavy Iraqi reconnoitering along the border, and their small [[Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company|teams of air-naval gunfire liaison Marines]] called in air and artillery strikes throughout the day. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Barry, commander of the forward headquarters of the 1st Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group, sent warnings about an impending attack to [[United States Central Command|Central Command]]. CentCom leaders were too preoccupied with the air campaign to heed them however,<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 12–13.</ref> and so the Iraqi operation came as a surprise.<ref>Titus, pp. 6–7.</ref><ref>Williams, p. 21.</ref>

===Beginning of Iraqi offensive: 29 January===
[[Image:Khafji.jpg|thumb|A view of the city of Khafji, prior to the battle.]]
The Iraqi offensive began on the night of 29 January, when approximately 2,000 soldiers in several hundred armored fighting vehicles moved south.<ref>Williams, p. 23.</ref> Post-war analysis by the [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]]'s [[Air University (United States Air Force)|Air University]] suggests Iraq planned to utilize the 3rd Armored Division and 5th Mechanized Division to make the actual attack on Khafji, with the 1st Mechanized Division assigned to protect the attacking force's western flank. The Iraqi incursion into Saudi Arabia consisted of three columns, mostly made up of T-62 tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs).<ref name=":0" /> The Gulf War's first ground engagement was near observation post 4 (OP-4), built on the Al-Zabr police building.<ref>Titus, p. 9.</ref><ref>Williams, p. 24.</ref> Elements of the Iraqi 6th Armored Brigade, ordered to take the heights above Al-Zabr, engaged Coalition units at Al-Zabr.<ref>Westermeyer, p. 15.</ref> At 20:00 hours, U.S. Marines at the observation post, who had noticed large groups of armored vehicles through their night vision devices, attempted to talk to battalion headquarters but received no response. Since contact earlier was no problem, there was a strong presumption that the reconnaissance platoon's radios were being jammed. Using runners, Lieutenant Ross alerted his platoon and continued trying to get through and inform higher headquarters and Company D of the oncoming Iraqi force.<ref>Liberating Kuwait, p. 112</ref> Contact was not established until 20:30 hours, which prompted Task Force Shepard to respond to the threat. Coalition soldiers at observation post 4 were lightly armed, and could only respond with TOW anti-tank missiles before calling in air support.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=With the 1st Marine Division in Desert Shield and Desert Storm – U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf, 1990–1991 – Khafji, Weapons Systems, Combat Engineer Breaching Equipment, Training with Saudi Army |last=Cureton |first=Charles H. |publisher=USMC |year=1993 |isbn=1521394504 |location=USA |pages=33}}</ref> Air support arrived by 21:30 and took the form of several [[F-15E]], [[F-16C]], four [[A-10]] Tank Killers and three [[AC-130]] gunships, which intervened in a heavy firefight between Iraqi and Coalition ground forces at OP-4. The reconnaissance platoon stationed at OP-4 was the first to come under attack, their withdrawal from the engagement was facilitated by another company providing cover fire. The attempt by the soldiers stationed at OP-4 to fend off or delay the Iraqi advance cost them several casualties,<ref name=":1" /> and in the face of a heavy Iraqi response they were forced to retire south, by order of its commanding officer.<ref>Westermeyer, p. 16.</ref>

[[File:My-Humvee-Shot.jpg|thumb|[[Humvee]] driven by Marine Corporal Richard Lovell, hit by small arms fire during 1st Major Iraqi ground offensive in Battle of Khafji.]]
To cover the withdrawal, the company's platoon of [[LAV-25]]s and LAV-ATs (anti-tank variants) moved to engage the Iraqi force. After receiving permission, one of the anti-tank vehicles opened fire at what it believed was an Iraqi tank. Instead, the missile destroyed a friendly LAV-AT a few hundred meters in front of it. Despite this loss, the platoon continued forward and soon opened fire on the Iraqi tanks with the LAV-25s' autocannons. The fire could not penetrate the tanks' armor, but did damage their optics and prevented the tanks from fighting back effectively.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 16–18.</ref>

Soon thereafter, a number of A-10 ground-attack aircraft arrived but found it difficult to pinpoint enemy targets and began dropping flares to illuminate the zone. One of these flares landed on a friendly vehicle, and although the vehicle radioed in its position, it was hit by an [[AGM-65 Maverick]] air-to-ground missile that killed the entire crew except for the driver. Following the incident, the company was withdrawn and the remaining vehicles reorganized into another nearby company.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 18–19.</ref> With observation post 4 cleared, the Iraqi 6th Armored Brigade withdrew over the border to Al-Wafrah under heavy fire from Coalition aircraft. Coalition forces had lost 11 troops to [[friendly fire]] and none to enemy action.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 19–20.</ref><ref>Titus, pp. 9–11.</ref>

While the events at observation post 4 were unfolding, the Iraqi 5th Mechanized Division crossed the Saudi Arabian border near observation post 1. A Company of the 2nd Light Infantry Armored Battalion, which was screening the Iraqi unit, reported a column of 60–100 BMPs. The column was engaged by Coalition A-10s and Harrier jump jets. This was then followed by another column with an estimated 29 tanks. One of the column's T-62 tanks was engaged by an anti-tank missile and destroyed.<ref>Westermeyer, p. 20.</ref> Coalition air support, provided by A-10s and [[F-16]]s, engaged the Iraqi drive through observation post 1 and ultimately repulsed the attack back over the Kuwaiti border. Aircraft continued to engage the columns throughout the night, until the next morning.<ref>Williams, p. 38.</ref> Another column of Iraqi tanks, approaching observation post 2, were engaged by aircraft and also repulsed that night.<ref>Titus, p. 11.</ref>

[[Image:RemnantsofLAV25.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|LAV-AT destroyed by a friendly anti-tank missile during the fighting around observation post 4, near Al Wafra.]]
An additional Iraqi column crossed the Saudi Arabian border to the East, although still along the coast, towards the city of Khafji.<ref>Titus, p. 12.</ref> These Iraqi tanks were screened by the 5th Mechanized Battalion of the 2nd Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigade. This battalion withdrew when it came under heavy fire, as it had been ordered to not engage the Iraqi column. Elements of the 8th and 10th Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigades also conducted similar screening operations. Due to the order to not engage, the road to Khafji was left open.<ref name="Westermeyer22">Westermeyer, p. 22.</ref> At one point, Iraqi T-55s of another column rolled up to the Saudi Arabian border, signaling that they intended to surrender. As they were approached by Saudi Arabian troops, they reversed their turrets and opened fire. This prompted air support from a nearby [[Lockheed AC-130|AC-130]], destroying 13 vehicles.<ref>Williams, pp. 38–39.</ref>

Nevertheless, the Iraqi advance towards Khafji continued on this sector, despite repeated attacks from an AC-130. Attempts by the Saudi Arabian commanders to call in additional air strikes on the advancing Iraqi column failed when the requested heavy air support never arrived.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 22–23.</ref> Khafji was occupied by approximately 00:30 on 30 January,<ref>Williams, p. 39.</ref> trapping two six-man reconnaissance teams from the 1st Marine Division in the city. The teams occupied two apartment buildings in the southern sector of the city and called artillery fire on their position to persuade the Iraqis to call off a search of the area.<ref>Williams, p. 41.</ref> Throughout the night, Coalition air support composed of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft continued to engage Iraqi tanks and artillery.<ref>Westermeyer, p. 23.</ref>

===Initial response: 30 January===
Distressed by the occupation of Khafji, Saudi Arabian commander General Khaled bin Sultan appealed to U.S. General [[Norman Schwarzkopf]] for an immediate air campaign against Iraqi forces in and around the city. However this was turned down because the buildings would make it difficult for aircraft to spot targets without getting too close. It was instead decided that the city would be retaken by Arab ground forces.<ref>Williams, p. 43.</ref> The task fell to the 2nd Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigade's 7th Battalion, composed of Saudi Arabian infantry with [[Cadillac Gage Commando|V-150 armored cars]] and two Qatari tank companies attached to the task force.<ref>Mahnken & Watts, pp. 155–156.</ref><ref name="Westermeyer126-127">Westermeyer (2014), pp. 126–127.</ref> These were supported by U.S. Army Special Forces and Marine Reconnaissance personnel.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 25–26.</ref>

The force was put under the command of Saudi Arabian Lieutenant Colonel Matar, who moved out by 17:00 hours. The force met up with elements of the [[3rd Marine Regiment (United States)|U.S. 3rd Marine Regiment]], south of Khafji, and were ordered to directly attack the city.<ref>Stanton, p. 8.</ref> A platoon of Iraqi T-55s attacked south of the city, leading to the destruction of three [[T-55]]s by Qatari [[AMX-30]]s, and the capture of a fourth Iraqi tank.<ref name="Westermeyer27">Westermeyer, p. 27.</ref> Lacking any coordinated artillery support,<ref name="Williams45">Williams, p. 45.</ref> artillery fire was provided by the 10th Marine Regiment.<ref name="Westermeyer27" />

[[File:U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf War (1991) 001.jpg|thumb|Supporting artillery from the [[10th Marine Regiment (United States)|10th Marine Regiment]].]]
An initial attack on the city was called off after the Iraqi occupants opened up with heavy fire, prompting the Saudi Arabians to reinforce the 7th Battalion with two more companies from adjacent Saudi Arabian units.<ref>Stanton, pp. 8–9.</ref> The attempt to retake the city had been preceded by a 15-minute preparatory fire from U.S. Marine artillery. However Iraqi fire did manage to destroy one Saudi Arabian V-150.<ref name=Westermeyer28>Westermeyer, p. 28.</ref>

Meanwhile, 2nd Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigade's 5th Battalion moved north of Khafji to block Iraqi reinforcements attempting to reach the city. This unit was further bolstered by the 8th Ministry of Defense and Aviation Brigade, and heavily aided by Coalition air support. Although fear of friendly fire forced the 8th Ministry of Defense and Aviation Brigade to pull back the following morning, Coalition aircraft successfully hindered Iraqi attempts to move more soldiers down to Khafji and caused large numbers of Iraqi troops to surrender to Saudi Arabian forces.<ref name=Westermeyer28/>

That night, two U.S. Army heavy equipment transporters entered the city of Khafji, apparently lost, and were fired upon by Iraqi troops. Although one truck managed to turn around and escape, the two drivers of the second truck were wounded and captured. This led to a rescue mission organized by [[3rd Battalion 3rd Marines|3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment]], which sent a force of 30 men to extract the two wounded drivers. Although encountering no major opposition, they did not find the two drivers who had, by this time, been taken prisoner. The Marines did find a burnt out Qatari AMX-30, with its dead crew.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 27–28; the two prisoners were released after the war.</ref> In the early morning hours, despite significant risk to their safety, an AC-130 providing overwatch stayed beyond sunrise. It was shot down by an Iraqi [[surface-to-air missile]] (SAM), killing the aircraft's crew of 14.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 29–30.</ref>

The interdiction on the part of Coalition aircraft and Saudi Arabian and Qatari ground forces was having an effect on the occupying Iraqi troops. Referring to Saddam Hussein's naming of the ground engagement as the "mother of all battles", Iraqi General Salah radioed in a request to withdraw, stating, "The mother was killing her children."<ref>Westermeyer, p. 30.</ref> Since the beginning of the battle, Coalition aircraft had flown at least 350 sorties against Iraqi units in the area and on the night of 30–31 January, Coalition air support also began to attack units of the Iraqi Third Corps assembled on the Saudi Arabian border.<ref>Williams, pp. 46–47.</ref>

===Recapture of Khafji: 31 January&nbsp;– 1 February===
On 31 January, the effort to retake the city began anew. The attack was launched at 08:30 hours, and was met by heavy but mostly inaccurate Iraqi fire; however, three Saudi Arabian V-150 armored cars were knocked out by [[RPG-7]]s at close range.<ref>Westermeyer, p. 31, and Tucker-Jones, p. 61, claim that three were knocked out, while Stanton, p. 9, claims that two were destroyed.</ref> The 8th battalion of the Saudi Arabian brigade was ordered to deploy to the city by 10:00 hours, while 5th Battalion to the north engaged another column of Iraqi tanks attempting to reach the city. The latter engagement led to the destruction of around 13 Iraqi tanks and armored personnel carriers, and the capture of 6 more vehicles and 116 Iraqi soldiers, costing the Saudi Arabian battalion two dead and two wounded. The 8th Battalion engaged the city from the northeast, linking up with 7th Battalion. These units cleared the southern portion of the city, until 7th Battalion withdrew south to rest and rearm at 18:30 hours, while the 8th remained in Khafji.<ref name="Stanton9">Stanton, p. 9.</ref> The two Qatari tank companies, with U.S. Marine artillery and air support, moved north of the city to block Iraqi reinforcements.<ref name="Westermeyer126-127"/>

The 8th continued clearing buildings and by the time the 7th had withdrawn to the south, the Saudi Arabians had lost approximately 18 dead and 50 wounded, as well as seven V-150 vehicles. Coalition aircraft continued to provide heavy support throughout the day and night.<ref>Westermeyer, p. 31.</ref> A veteran of the Iran-Iraq War later mentioned that Coalition airpower "imposed more damage on his brigade in half an hour than it had sustained in eight years of fighting against the Iranians."<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 31–32.</ref> During the battle, an Iraqi amphibious force was sent to land on the coast and moved into Khafji. As the boats made their way through the [[Persian Gulf]] towards Khafji, U.S. and British aircraft caught the Iraqi boats in the open and destroyed over 90% of the Iraqi amphibious force.<ref>Desert Storm-The Ground assault-video ordnance.</ref>

The Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti units renewed operations the following day. Two Iraqi companies, with about 20 armored vehicles, remained in the city and had not attempted to break out during the night. While the Saudi Arabian 8th Battalion continued operations in the southern portion of the city, the 7th Battalion began to clear the northern sector of the city. Iraqi resistance was sporadic and most Iraqi soldiers surrendered on sight; as a result, the city was recaptured on 1 February 1991.<ref>Stanton, pp. 9–10.</ref>

==Aftermath==
[[File:Cleaning up Khafji.jpg|thumb|Marines of the U.S. [[3rd Battalion 3rd Marines]], depicted in the painting ''Cleaning up Khafji''.]]
During the battle, Coalition forces incurred 43 fatalities and 52 injured casualties. This included 25 Americans killed, 11 of them by [[friendly fire]] along with 14 airmen killed when their [[Lockheed AC-130|AC-130]] was shot down by Iraqi SAMs. The U.S. also had two soldiers wounded and another two soldiers were captured in Khafji.<ref name="Westermeyer132">Westermeyer 2014, p. 132.</ref>

Saudi Arabian casualties totaled 18 killed and 50 wounded. Two Saudi [[main battle tank]]s and ten lightly armored V-150s were knocked out.<ref name="Westermeyer132" /> Most of the V150s were knocked out by RPG-7 fire in close-range fighting inside the town of Khafji. One of the two that was a catastrophic kill was hit by a 100mm main gun round from a T-55.<ref name="Stanton10">Stanton, p. 10.</ref>

Iraq listed its casualties as 71 dead, 148 wounded and 702 missing. U.S. sources present at the battle claim that 300 Iraqis lost their lives, and at least 90 vehicles were destroyed.<ref name="Westermeyer132" /> Another source suggests that 60 Iraqi soldiers were killed and at least 400 taken prisoner, while no less than 80 armored vehicles were knocked out; however these casualties are attributed to the fighting both inside and directly north of Khafji.<ref name="Stanton10" />

Whatever the exact casualties, the majority of three Iraqi mechanized/armored divisions had been destroyed.<ref>Williams, p. 52.</ref>

The Iraqi capture of Khafji was a major propaganda victory for Iraq: on 30 January Iraqi radio claimed that they had "expelled Americans from the Arab territory".<ref>Williams, p. 19.</ref> For many in the Arab world, the battle of Khafji was seen as an Iraqi victory, and Hussein made every possible effort to turn the battle into a political victory.<ref>Williams, p. 56.</ref> On the other side, confidence within the United States Armed Forces in the abilities of the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti armies increased as the battle progressed. After Khafji, the Coalition's leadership began to sense that the Iraqi Army was a "hollow force" and it provided them with an impression of the degree of resistance they would face during the Coalition's ground offensive that would begin later that month. The battle was felt by the Saudi Arabian government to be a major propaganda victory, which had successfully defended its territory.<ref>Westermeyer, pp. 32–33.</ref>

Despite the success of the engagements between 29 January and 1 February, the Coalition did not launch its main offensive into Kuwait and Iraq until the night of 24–25 February.<ref>Freedman & Karsh, p. 33.</ref><ref>Press, p. 1.</ref> The invasion of Iraq was completed about 48 hours later.<ref>Freedman & Karsh, p. 34.</ref> The Battle of Khafji served as a modern example of the ability of air power to serve a supporting role to ground forces. It offered the Coalition an indication of the manner in which [[Operation Desert Storm]] would be fought, but also hinted at future friendly-fire casualties which accounted for nearly half of the U.S. dead.<ref>Williams, pp. 23–24.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite journal |last=Biddle |first=Stephen |title=Victory Misunderstood: What the Gulf War Tells us About the Future of Conflict |journal=International Security |volume=21 |issue=2 |jstor=2539073 |pages=139–179 |publisher=The [[MIT Press]] |date=Autumn 1996 |doi=10.2307/2539073}}
* {{cite book |last=Foss |first=Christopher F. |title=Jane's Tank Recognition Guide |publisher=Harper Collins |year=2006 |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-0-00-718326-5}}
* {{cite journal |last=Freedman |first=Lawrence |author2=Efraim Karsh |title=How Kuwait Was Won: Strategy in the Gulf War |journal=International Security |volume=16 |issue=2 |jstor=2539059 |pages=5–41 |publisher=The MIT Press |date=Autumn 1991 |doi=10.2307/2539059 |s2cid=154290155}}
* {{cite web |title=Gulf War Facts |work=CNN |publisher=CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/gulf.war/facts/gulfwar/ |access-date=12 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612131747/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/gulf.war/facts/gulfwar/ |archive-date=12 June 2008 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Halliday |first=Fred |title=The Gulf War and its Aftermath: First Reflections |journal=International Affairs |volume=67 |issue=2 |pages=223–234 |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |date=April 1991 |doi=10.2307/2620827 |jstor=2620827 |s2cid=154565052}}
* {{cite book |title=Lucrative targets : the U.S. Air Force in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations |url=https://archive.org/details/lucrativetargets00jami |first=Perry |last=Jamieson |publisher=Air Force History and Museums Program |year=2001 |isbn=0160509580 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Lewis |first=Michael W. |title=The Law of Aerial Bombardment in the 1991 Gulf War |journal=The American Journal of International Law |volume=97 |issue=3 |jstor=3109837 |pages=481–509 |publisher=American Society of International Law |date=July 2003 |doi=10.2307/3109837 |s2cid=144600724}}
* {{cite journal |last=Mahnken |first=Thomas G. |author2=Barry D. Watts |title=What the Gulf War Can (and Cannot) Tell Us about the Future of Warfare |journal=International Security |volume=22 |issue=2 |jstor=2539371 |pages=151–162 |publisher=The MIT Press |date=Autumn 1997 |doi=10.2307/2539371}}
* {{cite book |last=Ogorkiewicz |first=Richard M. |title=AMX-30 Battle Tank |publisher=Profile Publications Ltd. |date=December 1973 |location=Berkshire, United Kingdom |oclc=54349455}}
* {{cite book |last=Perrett |first=Bryan |title=Iron Fist: Classic Armoured Warfare Case Studies |publisher=Brockhampton Press |year=1995 |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=1-86019-954-2}}
* {{cite journal |last=Press |first=Daryl G. |title=The Myth of Air Power in the Persian Gulf War and the Future of Warfare |journal=International Security |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=4–44 |publisher=The MIT Press |date=Autumn 2001 |doi=10.1162/016228801753191123 |s2cid=57568401}}
* {{cite book |last=Rottman |first=Gordon |title=Armies of the Gulf War |url=https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott |url-access=limited |publisher=Osprey |year=1993 |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |isbn=1-85532-277-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/armiesgulfwar00rott/page/n63 64] }}
* {{cite journal |last=Stanton |first=Martin N. |url=http://ciar.org/ttk/mbt/armor/armor-magazine/armor-mag.1996.ma/2saudi96.pdf |title=The Saudi Arabian National Guard Motorized Brigade |journal=[[ARMOR magazine]] |pages=6–11 |publisher=US Army Armor Center |location=Fort Knox, Kentucky |date=1 March 1996 |issn=0004-2420 |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-date=5 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105033548/http://ciar.org/ttk/mbt/armor/armor-magazine/armor-mag.1996.ma/2saudi96.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |first=James |last=Titus |url=https://research.au.af.mil/papers/ay1996/ari/titusj.pdf |title=The Battle of Khafji: An Overview and Preliminary Analysis |publisher=College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education Air University |date=September 1996 |access-date=10 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225123721/https://research.au.af.mil/papers/ay1996/ari/titusj.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2009 |df=dmy }}
* {{cite web |last=Westermeyer |first=Paul W. |author-link=Paul Westermeyer |url=http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/U.S.%20Marines%20in%20Battle%20Al-Khafji%20%20PCN%20106000400_1.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-164150-403 |format=PDF |title=U.S. Marines in Battle: Al-Khafji, 28 January–1 February 1991 |publisher=History Division, U.S. Marine Corps |location=Washington D.C., United States of America |year=2008 |access-date=16 January 2018 |archive-date=17 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070209/http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/U.S.%20Marines%20in%20Battle%20Al-Khafji%20%20PCN%20106000400_1.pdf?ver=2012-10-11-164150-403 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last=Westermeyer |first=Paul |title=Liberating Kuwait |url=https://permanent.fdlp.gov/gpo52758/Liberating%20Kuwait.pdf |publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps |location=Quantico, VA |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-9911588-2-9 |access-date=17 November 2021 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220034049/https://permanent.fdlp.gov/gpo52758/Liberating%20Kuwait.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{cite thesis |first=Scott |last=Williams |title=The Battle of Al-Khafji |publisher=Naval Postgraduate School |date=June 2002 |type=Master's |hdl=10945/5686 |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/36699391.pdf |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=13 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190313032404/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/36699391.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last=Zaloga |first=Steven J. |title=BMP Infantry Fighting Vehicle 1967–94 |publisher=Osprey |year=1995 |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |isbn=1-85532-433-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Tucker-Jones |first=Anthony |title=The Gulf War: Operation Desert Storm 1990-1991 |publisher=Pen and Sword |year=2014 |isbn=978-1473837089}}
* {{cite book |last=Zaloga |first=Steven J. |title=Modern Soviet Armor: Combat Vehicles of the USSR and Warsaw Pact Today |publisher=Prentice Hall |year=1979 |location=Edinburgh, United Kingdom |isbn=0-13-597856-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/modernsovietarmo00zalo }}
* {{cite book |last=Zaloga |first=Steven J. |title=T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944–2004 |publisher=Osprey |year=2004 |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |isbn=1-84176-792-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Zaloga |first=Steven J. |author2=(Lt. Col.) James W. Loop |title=Modern American Armor: Combat Vehicles of the United States Army Today |publisher=Arms and Armour Press |year=1982 |location=New York City |isbn=0-85368-248-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Zaloga |first=Steven J. |title=T-72 Main Battle Tank 1974–93 |publisher=Osprey |year=1993 |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |isbn=1-85532-338-9}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Atkinson |first=Rick |title=Crusade: the untold story of the Persian Gulf War |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |year=1993 |isbn=0-395-71083-9 |oclc=28378277 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/crusadeuntoldsto00atki}}
* {{Cite book |last=Dewer |first=Michael |title=War in the streets: the story of urban combat from Calais to Khafji |publisher=David & Charles |year=1992 |isbn=0-7153-9477-0}}
* 2nd Armored Division "Hell on Wheels" by Steven Smith
* {{cite book |last=Morris |first=David J. |title=Storm on the horizon : Khafji—the battle that changed the course of the Gulf War |publisher=Free Press |year=2004 |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7432-3557-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/stormonhorizonkh00morr/page/317 317] |url=https://archive.org/details/stormonhorizonkh00morr/page/317}}
{{Refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khafji, Battle of}}
[[Category:1991 in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Battles in 1991]]
[[Category:Battles involving Iraq]]
[[Category:Battles involving Kuwait]]
[[Category:Battles involving Morocco]]
[[Category:Battles involving Qatar]]
[[Category:Battles involving Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Battles involving Senegal]]
[[Category:Battles involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Battles involving the United States]]
[[Category:Battles of the Gulf War]]
[[Category:Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:February 1991 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents]]
[[Category:Invasions by Iraq]]
[[Category:Invasions of Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Iraq–Saudi Arabia relations]]
[[Category:January 1991 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Tank battles involving the United States]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Urban warfare]]

Edit summary (Briefly describe your changes)

By publishing changes, you agree to the Terms of Use, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the CC BY-SA 4.0 License and the GFDL. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)

Copy and paste: – — ° ′ ″ ≈ ≠ ≤ ≥ ± − × ÷ ← → · § Cite your sources: <ref></ref>

{{}} {{{}}} | [] [[]] [[Category:]] #REDIRECT [[]]   <s></s> <code></code> <pre></pre> <blockquote></blockquote> <ref></ref> <ref name="" /> {{Reflist}} <references /> <includeonly></includeonly> <noinclude></noinclude> {{DEFAULTSORT:}} <nowiki></nowiki>

Symbols: ~ | ¡ ¿ † ‡ ↔ ↑ ↓ • ¶ # ∞ ‹› «» ¤ ₳ ฿ ₵ ¢ ₡ ₢ $ ₫ ₯ € ₠ ₣ ƒ ₴ ₭ ₤ ℳ ₥ ₦ № ₧ ₰ £ ៛ ₨ ₪ ৳ ₮ ₩ ¥ ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ 𝄫 ♭ ♮ ♯ 𝄪 © ® ™
Latin: A a Á á À à Â â Ä ä Ǎ ǎ Ă ă Ā ā Ã ã Å å Ą ą Æ æ Ǣ ǣ B b C c Ć ć Ċ ċ Ĉ ĉ Č č Ç ç D d Ď ď Đ đ Ḍ ḍ Ð ð E e É é È è Ė ė Ê ê Ë ë Ě ě Ĕ ĕ Ē ē Ẽ ẽ Ę ę Ẹ ẹ Ɛ ɛ Ǝ ǝ Ə ə F f G g Ġ ġ Ĝ ĝ Ğ ğ Ģ ģ H h Ĥ ĥ Ħ ħ Ḥ ḥ I i İ ı Í í Ì ì Î î Ï ï Ǐ ǐ Ĭ ĭ Ī ī Ĩ ĩ Į į Ị ị J j Ĵ ĵ K k Ķ ķ L l Ĺ ĺ Ŀ ŀ Ľ ľ Ļ ļ Ł ł Ḷ ḷ Ḹ ḹ M m Ṃ ṃ N n Ń ń Ň ň Ñ ñ Ņ ņ Ṇ ṇ Ŋ ŋ O o Ó ó Ò ò Ô ô Ö ö Ǒ ǒ Ŏ ŏ Ō ō Õ õ Ǫ ǫ Ọ ọ Ő ő Ø ø Œ œ Ɔ ɔ P p Q q R r Ŕ ŕ Ř ř Ŗ ŗ Ṛ ṛ Ṝ ṝ S s Ś ś Ŝ ŝ Š š Ş ş Ș ș Ṣ ṣ ß T t Ť ť Ţ ţ Ț ț Ṭ ṭ Þ þ U u Ú ú Ù ù Û û Ü ü Ǔ ǔ Ŭ ŭ Ū ū Ũ ũ Ů ů Ų ų Ụ ụ Ű ű Ǘ ǘ Ǜ ǜ Ǚ ǚ Ǖ ǖ V v W w Ŵ ŵ X x Y y Ý ý Ŷ ŷ Ÿ ÿ Ỹ ỹ Ȳ ȳ Z z Ź ź Ż ż Ž ž ß Ð ð Þ þ Ŋ ŋ Ə ə
Greek: Ά ά Έ έ Ή ή Ί ί Ό ό Ύ ύ Ώ ώ Α α Β β Γ γ Δ δ Ε ε Ζ ζ Η η Θ θ Ι ι Κ κ Λ λ Μ μ Ν ν Ξ ξ Ο ο Π π Ρ ρ Σ σ ς Τ τ Υ υ Φ φ Χ χ Ψ ψ Ω ω {{Polytonic|}}
Cyrillic: А а Б б В в Г г Ґ ґ Ѓ ѓ Д д Ђ ђ Е е Ё ё Є є Ж ж З з Ѕ ѕ И и І і Ї ї Й й Ј ј К к Ќ ќ Л л Љ љ М м Н н Њ њ О о П п Р р С с Т т Ћ ћ У у Ў ў Ф ф Х х Ц ц Ч ч Џ џ Ш ш Щ щ Ъ ъ Ы ы Ь ь Э э Ю ю Я я ́
IPA: t̪ d̪ ʈ ɖ ɟ ɡ ɢ ʡ ʔ ɸ β θ ð ʃ ʒ ɕ ʑ ʂ ʐ ç ʝ ɣ χ ʁ ħ ʕ ʜ ʢ ɦ ɱ ɳ ɲ ŋ ɴ ʋ ɹ ɻ ɰ ʙ ⱱ ʀ ɾ ɽ ɫ ɬ ɮ ɺ ɭ ʎ ʟ ɥ ʍ ɧ ʼ ɓ ɗ ʄ ɠ ʛ ʘ ǀ ǃ ǂ ǁ ɨ ʉ ɯ ɪ ʏ ʊ ø ɘ ɵ ɤ ə ɚ ɛ œ ɜ ɝ ɞ ʌ ɔ æ ɐ ɶ ɑ ɒ ʰ ʱ ʷ ʲ ˠ ˤ ⁿ ˡ ˈ ˌ ː ˑ ̪ {{IPA|}}

Wikidata entities used in this page

Battle of Khafji: Title, Sitelink, Description: en, Some statements, Miscellaneous (e.g. aliases, entity existence)

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Battle of Khafji (edit)
Template:Age in months, weeks and days (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Age in years, months, weeks and days (view source) (extended confirmed protected)
Template:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Campaignbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Campaignbox Gulf War (edit)
Template:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite book (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite journal (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite thesis (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Coord (view source) (protected)
Template:Country data Ba'athist Iraq (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Country data Kuwait (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Country data Qatar (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Country data Saudi Arabia (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Country data United States (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cvt (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:DMCA (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Delink (view source) (protected)
Template:FULLROOTPAGENAME (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Featured article (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Fix (view source) (protected)
Template:Fix/category (view source) (protected)
Template:Flag (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Flag/core (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Flag country (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Flag country/core (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Flag icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Flag icon/core (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Flagcountry (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Flagcountry/core (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Flagicon (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Gulf War (edit)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Image reference needed (edit)
Template:Infobox military conflict (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:Military navigation (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Nowrap (view source) (protected)
Template:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Portal bar (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Refbegin (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Refbegin/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Refend (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:Top icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Use dmy dates (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Yesno (view source) (protected)
Template:Yesno-no (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Age (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Authority control/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/text (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Coordinates (view source) (protected)
Module:Coordinates/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Date (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Delink (view source) (protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:EditAtWikidata (view source) (protected)
Module:InfoboxImage (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Infobox military conflict (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Infobox military conflict/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Math (view source) (protected)
Module:Military navigation (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Ns has subpages (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/rfd (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:Portal (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Portal/images/i (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Portal/images/k (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Portal/images/s (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Portal/images/u (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Portal bar (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Portal bar/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:WPMILHIST Infobox style (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

This page is a member of 10 hidden categories (help):

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khafji" ●Privacy policy ●About Wikipedia ●Disclaimers ●Contact Wikipedia ●Code of Conduct ●Developers ●Statistics ●Cookie statement ●Mobile view