23 Jan (continuing) air and sea campaign, with goal to "cut off the Iraqi army and kill it." 5 Iraqi SCUD missiles fired at Saudi Arabia (2 Riyadh, 2 Dhahran, I at King Khalid Military Center). U.S. Patriot missiles successfully intercepted four, one fell into gulf waters. No injuries. In second attack, I SCUD is intercepted over Israel by U.S./Israeli Patriot missiles. No injuries. 24 Jan DOD announces 15,000 sorties (8,000 combat, 7,000 support) have been flown and more than 220 TOMAHAWK cruise missiles have been launched at Iraqi targets. Air strikes are directed at SCUD missile launchers, lines of transportation and communication, control sites and airfields. At Al Quara West airfield, 3 Soviet-built TU-16 Bad- ger heavy bombers were caught on the ground, ready to take off, and destroyed. Coalition has been joined by forces from Qatar and Bah- rain. The UK has lost a Tornado. Two crewmembers are missing. USN A-6s attacked and destroyed an Iraqi Spasilac minelayer. An A-6 sank an Iraqi Zhuk-class patrolboat and another Iraqi minesweeper hit an Iraqi mine while attempting to evade the A-6 fire. Twenty-two survivors were taken from the sea by a helo from USS CURTS (FFG- 38), near the island of Jazirat Qurah. During rescue, helo comes under attack, returned fire from Iraqi forces on the island, killing 3. 29 additional Iraqis subsequently surrendered. 51 enemy prisoners of war were taken into custody by SEAL Platoon from Naval Special Warfare Group One on Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 12 and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 9 helos from USS LEFEwICH (DD-984) and USS NICHOLAS, and the island is reclaimed, the first liberated Kuwaiti territory. Also, A-6s and F/A-18s attacked the Umm Qasr Naval Base, hitting four Iraqi ships. In first air-to-air engagement between Saudi Arabian and Iraqi aircraft, a Royal Saudi F-iS downed 2 Iraqi F-is (armed with Exocet anti- ship missiles and bombs). USS WORDEN (CG-18) vectored aircraft for shootdown. To-date, 19 Iraqi aircraft have been destroyed in air- to-air engagements, with no U.S. or coalition losses. U.S. ships continue multiple operations including locating and destroying 25 mines to-date in the northern Arabian Gulf. Using Harpoon anti-ship missile, Royal Saudi vessel sinks an Iraqi minelayer in northern Persian Gulf. No survivors reported. U.S. ground forces continue to be attacked by sporadic Iraqi artillery fire, but no injuries or damage. No direct ground confrontations. Troops con- tinue maneuvering for any possible engagement at Saudi-Kuwaiti border. DOD announces U.S. troop strength has increased to 475,000 (75,000 Navy, 90,000 USMC). Elements of IV and V Marine Expeditionary Brigades, and 13th Marine Ex- peditionary Unit, embarked on ships from Alnphibious Task Groups Two and Three, are conducting amphibious exercise Operation Sea- Soldier IV, the largest amphibious force assembed since the 1950 landing at Inchon, Republic of South Korea. A-19
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