23 Feb DOD announces that 94,000 sorties have been flown (2,900 today) re-focus. ing on battlefield preparation in the KTO (1,200 sorties), destruction of the Republican Guard (100 sorties), attacks and re-attacks on selected strategic targets, counter-SCUD (300 sorties), and interdic- tion of communicati9ns. Naval forces are conducting combat air patrols, naval gunfire support, nune countermeasures and maritime intercept operations. USS MISSOURI destroyed targets on Faylaka Island. off the coast of Kuwait City. Ground forces continue to engage Iraqi forces with artillery, attack helos and tactical aircraft throughout the border area. A Marine patrol engaged 12 Iraqi tanks, destroying four with TOW missile fire. Other tanks fled, were engaged by air and artillery fire. Marines captured 143 enemy prisoners of war. 2100+ EPWs captured to-date. DOD announces that 1,685 Iraqi tanks (39% of known inventory), 925 ar- mored vehicles (32% of known inventory) and 1,450 artillery pieces (48% of known inventory) have been destroyed to-date. 200 of Kuwait's 950 oilwells are burning creating thick smoke, and wellheads, oil facilities and shipping terminals are being destroyed by Iraq. DOD reports as many as 10,000 Kuwaitis are being rounded up and summa- rily executed. Other atrocities are reported including systematic murders of previously-tortured Kuwaitis. 1 SCUD missile is fired at Saudi Arabia, broke up in flight. A second SCUD was intercepted by U.S. Patriot missiles over Israel. Iraq does not comply with deadline (1200 EST) to meet coalition demands. Iraq announced `We will never surrender. A lot of Americans will die." At 2000 (EST), President Bush announced he's directed General Norman Schwarzkopf, in conjunction with coalition forces, "to use all forces available, including ground forces, to eject the Iraqi army from Kuwait.... The liberation of Kuwait has entered a flnal phase." Following President Bush's statement, SECDEF Dick Cheney announced commencement of "large ground offensive." Cheney reports "units are on the move. 24 Feb CINCCENTCOM announces that forces of the U.S., Saudi Arabia, UK, France, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Syria and Kuwait are proceeding in a major ground, naval and air offensive. At 0400 (Desert Time), assault elements of 1st Marine Division (1st Battal- ion, 5th & 7th Marines, supported by 3rd Tank Battalion) and 2nd Marine Division (6th Marines and armor) launched attack, easily breeching Iraq's vaunted defense lines of minefields, barbed wire, bunkers and berms. Marines spearheaded attack, with USA para- troopers, air assault forces, special forces, and ground forces of the UK, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Syria. Within 9 hours, Marines destroyed numerous Iraqi tanks and bunkers, seized the Burgan oil field and Al Jabbir Airfield, and captured thousands of Iraqi troops. Amphibious feint attacks under naval gunfire are launched in Arabian Oulf. A-38
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