Gulf War 1991 - Operation Desert Storm in real time

DAY 12 of operation Desert Storm, Sunday January 27th 1991

Events of the day

Amid fears of terrorism, Super Bowl XXV goes off without a hitch.

Security forces in Europe and Asia have stepped up anti-terrorism efforts.

Saudis say that the oil slick will not endanger desalinization plant production.

23 Iraqi aircraft flee to Iran, bringing total to 39. Iranians say they will confiscate them until the end of the war.

Schwarzkopf says United States pilots are taking extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties.

Saddam renews threat to usp nonconventional weapons against Israel.

Iraq opens border to Jordan but orders refugees to return to Baghdad for visas.

Cheney says "we've always assumed that we would eventually have to send in ground forces."

Egyptian Ghali says Egypt is not in favor of destruction of Iraq or change of government and could work with Saddam after the war.

Combat operations (Air, Land and Sea)

Over 22,000 sorties have been flown, including attacks on 3 SCUD missile launch sites, Republican Guard troop emplacements, bridges, lines of communications and shelters. There have been no United States aircraft lost in the past 48 hours.

Photo: An underside view of a Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) F-14A Tomcat aircraft on a combat air patrol (CAP) during Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft is carrying four AIM-7 Sparrow missiles under its fuselage and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on each wing pylon.



USAF F-111s attacked pipelines feeding the Sea Island Terminal with GBU-15 laser-guided bombs to stem the flow of oil, now 35 miles long and 10 miles wide, into the Persian Gulf, and to ignite oil and burn off pollutants. The attack specifically targeted system of pipes that regulate oil flow from storage tanks to the terminal called manifolds. Oil flow has apparently drastically slowed, and fire should burn out in about 24 hours.

4 Iraqi MIG-23 aircraft have been destroyed in air-to-air engagements with 2 USAF F-15s near Baghdad. Iraqi aircraft losses in air-to air engagements to-date total 26.

USN A-6s attack and destroy an Iraqi ship, and coalition naval forces con tinue to hunt Iraqi patrol and mine-laying boats in the northern Arabian Gulf and near Bubiyan Island. To-date, 8 Iraqi vessels (1 oil platform service ship, 2 patrol boats, 1 tanker, and 4 unknown) are presumed destroyed, and 10 (4 mining vessels, 1 hovercraft, 3 patrol boats, and 2 unknown) have been sunk. 2 additional mines have been located and destroyed in the northern Arabian Gulf. 39 Iraqi aircraft, including 23 in the past 24 hours, have landed in Iran. Iran announces that to protect its neutrality, any warplanes landing within its borders would be confiscated and held until end of hostilities.

United States Patriot missiles intercept 6 Iraqi SCUD missiles aimed at Saudi Arabia and Israel. 51 SCUDs have been launched to-date.

Photo: USS Normandy (CG-60) fires a Tomahawk cruise missile

DAY 14 of operation Desert Storm, Tuesday, January 29th 1991

Events of the day

United States, Soviet Union issue communique offering Iraq cease-fire if it makes "unequivocal commitment" to withdraw.

Allied pilots begin flying combat air patrols to thwart Iraqi flights to Iran.

Bush state of the Union message calls for United States to bear the "burden of leadership" in world affairs.

United States/Soviet Joint Statement says hostilities could end if Iraq makes "an unequivocal commitment" to pull out. Also, U.S. and U.S.SR will make "substantial contribution" to achieving "a comprehensive settlement" in Middle East after the war.

United States officials confirm that oil spill flow has been stopped.

Germany promises U.S. $5.5B and also military aid to Israel and Turkey.

French Defense Minister Chevenement forced from office for openly disagreeing with initiating military action.

Iranian harboring of Iraqi planes, now numbering over 90, is seen as a bid for a role in postwar security.

Iran assures the UNSG that the planes will be held until the end of the war.

One of allied pilots held as a human shield is said to be killed in air raid on Baghdad.

Israel shells Rashidiyyah Refugee Camp in Lebanon after rockets land in the "security zone" in South Lebanon.

Combat operations (Air, Land and Sea)

Over 27,000 sorties have been flown and 256 TOMAHAWK cruise missiles launched as air campaign targeting priorities continue to be command and control, airfields, SCUD locations, lines of communication, Republican Guard areas, and battlefield preparation.

Naval forces are conducting strike operations, surface surveillance, and combat air patrols. A-6s have attacked and destroyed two Iraqi Silkworm missile launchers. Naval aircraft again attacked Iraqi ships and port facilities at Um Qasr Naval Base. F/A-18s destroyed control centers at an oil refinery at Basra. In the first major ground confrontation, Iraq mounts a four- pronged raid across Kuwaiti border.

Photo: A BGM-109 Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile (TLAM) is launched toward a target in Iraq from the port side Mark 143 Armored Box Launcher (ABL) on the stern of the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN40)



United States ground forces continue to receive sporadic artillery fire, engage in small skirmishes with Iraqi troops along the Kuwaiti border, and conducting artillery and counter-battery missions, firing hundreds of rounds and anti-tank missiles on Iraqi outposts in Kuwait.

United States Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed from USS OKINAWA (LPH-3), assault and capture Umm al Maradim Island, 12 miles off the coast of Kuwait. Marines plant the Kuwaiti flag, and destroyed anti-aircraft weapons and artillery stored on the 400 meter by-300 meter island. This is the second island reclaimed for the Kuwaiti government by the coalition. Navy helos search Maradim Island investigating reports of Iraqis offering to surrender, and were fired upon by approximately 20 Iraqi small craft with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. Returned fire, sinking 4 boats, damaging 12. A-6s engaged fleeing boats.

80-90 Iraqi aircraft (35% civilian, 65% fighters/bombers) have now flown into Iran.

More than 700,000 coalition air, ground, and naval personnel are present in the theater of operation, and over 110 coalition combatant ships are participating. United States troops number over 490,000.

USCENTCOM officially begins first transfer of 36 Iraqi Enemy Prisoners of War to Saudi Arabian control.

Combat operations (Battle of Khafji)

YouTube (Battle of Khafji)



Approximately 2,000 Iraqi soldiers in several hundred armored fighting vehicles move south into Saudi Arabia consisted of three columns, mostly made up of T-62 tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs).The Gulf War's first ground engagement was near observation post 4 (OP-4), built on the Al-Zabr police building. Elements of the Iraqi 6th Armored Brigade, ordered to take the heights above Al-Zabr, engaged Coalition units at Al-Zabr.

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. 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. 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 were 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, and in the face of a heavy Iraqi response they were forced to retire south, by order of its commanding officer.

Photo: U.S. troops outside the city of Khafji



To cover the withdrawal, the company's platoon of LAV-25s 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.

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. 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.

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. Coalition air support, provided by A-10s and F-16s, 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. Another column of Iraqi tanks, approaching observation post 2, were engaged by aircraft and also repulsed that night.

Photo: 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. 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. 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 AC-130, destroying 13 vehicles.

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. 

DAY 16 of operation Desert Storm, Thursday, January 31st 1991

Events of the day

Sheik Abdul-Aziz Bin Baz, Saudis' leading interpreter of Islamic law, calls Saddam Hussein "enemy of God."

French. Algerians, Yemenis and Iraqis meeting in Iran to discuss possible peace plan.

Israel sets out conditions for peace- simultaneous bilateral talks with Palestinians and Arabs, total defeat of Saddam, says it would resist U.S./U.S.S.R. joint efforts for international conference.

U.S. reportedly drawing up strategic vision for after war, including regional security, economic issues, arms control and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Rockets fired at Israel's northern border, apparently by PLO.

Iran sends UN a note assuring it will keep the Iraqi planes until the end of the war.

Combat operations (Air, Land and Sea)

Over 32,000 sorties have been flown (2,600 today). Coalition air, ground and naval personnel now exceed 705,000. United States troop strength now exceeds one half million. Republican Guard positions have been hit with over 350 tactical fighter strikes and over 10 B-52 strikes. U.S. and coalition tactical aircraft continue to engage tactical armor and infantry positions north of the Ras al Khafji area and along the Kuwaiti Coastal Highway.

Photo: RAF Buccaneer S.2B under shelter at Muharraq.



One AC-130H, AF Serial No. 69-6567, call-sign Spirit 03, supporting Marines around Khafji, is shot down by Iraqi infrared surface-to-air missile, with 14 crew members killed.

To-date, 37 mines have been located and destroyed. USS LEFTWICH captures 15 EPWs from Khawar al Amaya oil platform. Iraqi SCUD missile is fired at Israel, falls harmlessly in the West Bank.

Photo: Three U.S. Air Force KC-10A Extender tanker aircraft taxi down a runway in preparation for supporting a daytime bombing mission on Iraqi positions during Operation Desert Storm.



Combat operations (Battle of Khafji)

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-7s at close range. 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. The two Qatari tank companies, with U.S. Marine artillery and air support, moved north of the city to block Iraqi reinforcements.

Photo: A Saudi Arabia National Guard forces Gage V-150 Commando LAV armed with the TOW AT missile



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. 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." 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.

DAY 18 of operation Desert Storm,   Saturday, February 2nd 1991

Events of the day

DOD spokesman says DOD "does not want, will not ask Congress for, and does not feel we need the draft."

Political events

Iran is reported to have rejected appeals by Iraq for the rectum of warplanes that flew to Iran in quest of sanctuary from allied air strikes.

Cheney says blockade may have to be continued, even after pullout of Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Combat operations (Air, Land and Sea)

Over 37,000 sorties have been flown (2,600 today), focused on targeting Republican Guard positions, strategic targets and targets of opportunity.

Photo:  An Attack Squadron 72 (VA-72) A-7E Corsair aircraft banks to the left while en-route to its target during Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft is carrying six Mark 20 Rockeye II anti-tank cluster bombs on its outboard wing pylons and an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile on each of its fuselage pylons. VA-72 is based aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), which is operating in the Red Sea



A USN A-6 with two crewmembers, LCDR Barry Cooke, LT Patrick Connor, from the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT's Attack Squadron 36 and a USAF A-10 with 1 crewman has been shot down by anti aircraft fire. The three crewmembers are listed as missing.

United States naval operations continue with an attack on the A1 Kalia naval facility. One Iraqi Exocet-capable patrol boat was directly hit with two laser guided bombs, while a second aircraft launched a string of 12 500 pound bombs across a second patrol boat which also went into a building on the pier generating several secondary explosions.

Helos from the USS NICHOLAS engaged four Iraqi patrol boats near the Myerdam Island, destroying one, damaging two. Also, A-6s scored a direct hit with two laser-guided bombs on a patrol boat in the Kuwait City harbor. 35 Iragi naval craft have been sunk or damaged to date.

Senior commanders now conclude that with the destruction of all Iraqi patrol craft capable of delivering missiles. Iraqi naval forces are considered to be combat ineffective.

USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG-5) diverts 2 freighters in North Red Sea, USS HALYBURTON (FFG-40) assists with one diversion. USS BIDDLE (CG-34) diverts one freighter in the North Red Sea. 2 SCUD missiles are fired at Tel Aviv, Israel. One landed in Jordan, the other in the West Bank. No injuries, minimal damage. One SCUD was intercepted over Riyadh, S.A. by a United States Patriot missile. Falling debris injured 29 people.

Schwarzkopf formally decides against amphibious landing in Kuwait.

Photo: The battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) lies at anchor in a Persian Gulf region port during Operation Desert Storm, February 2, 1991.

DAY 20 of operation Desert Storm,   Monday, February 4th 1991

Events of the day

Iranian President Rafsanjani offers to mediate in war, but gets cool reception from White House.

U.S. reduces staff at embassy in Jordan.

EC urges joint efforts with U.S. after the war to resolve Middle East conflicts.

"Several days ago" Egypt warned Sudan not to allow Iraqi planes or forces in, or they would be attacked.

PLO says it will not launch any more rockets from southern Lebanon, paving way for arrival of Lebanese Armed Forces. 

Oil at $21.14 per barrel.

Political events

The Bush administration ruled out any diplomatic solution to the Persian Gulf War, and rejected an offer by Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsaniani to broker a deal between Baghdad and Washington' White House spokesperson Marlin Fitzwater stated, "Our purpose is to get Iraq out out Kuwait, and we have gone through twelve UN resolutions and are engaged in a military conflict to do that. That's where ow focus is and we don't expect to change that."

Secretary of Defense Cheney refused to characterize how much progress was made in hurting the fighting ability of the well-entrenched Iraqi Army' The Pentagon, he said, had "assumed that at some Point we would have to send in ground forces in order to liberate Kuwait."

According to the government-owned newspaper Al Ahmm, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with his Defense Minister. Chief of Staff, and all senior commanders of the armed forces to examine Egypt's role in Saudi Arabia. Indications surfaced that the estimated 45,000 Egyptian troops stationed in Saudi Arabia would go into action against Iraqi forces should a ground offensive be mounted to recapture Kuwait. When the troops were originally dispatched, Cairo said little about the forces beyond the fact their task was to defend Saudi Arabia.

Combat operations (Air, Land and Sea)

Over 44,000 sorties have been flown -- "that's approximately one bombing sortie for every minute of the DESERT STORM operation" -- (2,700 today), including 250 sorties and six B-52 strikes on Republican Guard troop positions. United States aircraft also hit targets of opportunity, including a USMC AV-8B attack with Rockeye anti-tank bombs that destroyed or damaged 25 Iraqi tanks, and a strike on a truck convoy detected moving at about 0400. There has been no hostile activity by Iraq's naval forces.

Photo: A U.S. Navy McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet from strike fighter squadron VFA-81 Sunliners prepares for refueling from a U.S. Air Force tanker. The aircraft is armed with AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles and Mk 83 bombs

DAY 22 of operation Desert Storm, Wednesday, February 6th 1991

Events of the day

Baker outlines vision for postwar Gulf, with 5 "pillars": new security arrangement, arms control agreement, economic reconstruction, Arab & Palestinian - Israeli peace, and reduction in U.S. dependence on oil.

Jordan's King Hussein makes speech moving closer to Iraq, saying war is against all Moslems and western aim is to reorganize the area.

Israel strikes targets in southern Lebanon, as Lebanese Army deploys there for the first time in 16 years

U.S. accused of giving intelligence to Syria that resulted in 2 infiltrated Israeli agents being killed.

Political events

Baghdad severed diplomatic ties with the United States and other countries in the multinational force.

Secretary of Defense Cheney and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General Powell, in a closed door report to Congress, left a strong impression that an allied ground offensive was not imminent- The nation's top two military advisers offered no timetable for a ground attack and assured lawmakers that the Bush administration was not eager to change the course of the war from the air to land.

Combat operations (Air, Land and Sea)

Over 49,000 sorties have been flown (2,500 today), with A-6s, F-15s. F-16s and B-52s targeting Republican Guard fortifications every three hours around the clock. 650 sorties have also hit convoys and assembly areas to isolate Iraqi troops and shape the Kuwait Theater of Operations for any future engagements. Bridges, roads and railroads are being targeted and re targeted to interdict troop resupply. 42 bridges have been destroyed or extensively damaged, 70% of Iraqi supply lines have been cut.

USS MISSOURI has destroyed 4 artillery emplacements and a command bunker with another 16-inch gun barrage in support of Marines. In a second salvo, the MISSOURI fired 28 16-inch rounds against a radar control site complex, completely destroying it. 5-inch batteries also engaged. MISSOURI has fired a total of 112 16-inch shells and 12 five-inch rounds in 8 fire support missions over 48 hours. Within two hours of relieving its sister battleship, USS WISCONSIN (BB 64) conducted its first naval gunffre support mission since the Korean War, firing an 11-round salvo with its 16-inch guns and destroying an Iraqi artillery battery in southern Kuwait. Secondary explo sions reported. USS NICHOLAS escorted the battleship. USMC OV-10 called in the fire mission.

Photo: " 16-inch (410 mm) guns fired aboard USS MISSOURI (BB-63) as night shelling of Iraqi targets takes place along the northern Kuwaiti coast during Operation Desert Storm."



Two patrolling F-15s intercepted 4 Iraqi fighters transiting to Iran 100 feet above-ground, and shot down 2 SU-25s and 2 MIG-21s. Three other Iraqi fighters crossed into Iranian airspace before furhter engagement. 134 Iraqi prances (109 fighters, 25 transports) have flown to Iran.

Navy and Marine Corps aircraft have flown over 11,000 combat during OPERATION DESERT STORM.

USS GERMANTOWN (LSD-42) and 30 other amphibious ships arrive in the Arabian Gulf with 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade embarked, also on board the USS GERMANTOWN are 4 air cushion landing craft (LCAC) for combat operations ashore, a first in Navy history. Naval maritime intercept operations continue with over 7,100 merchants challenged, over 860 ships boarded, and 40 diverted.

Marines and other troops continue ground maneuvers, and there have been numerous Iraqi reconnaissance probes. Contact has been minimal.

To-date, there have been 35 United States fatalities: 12 KIA, 23 Non-Combat Fatalities; 11 WIA; 24 MIA (6 Navy, 1 USMC); 2 Missing; 8 POW (2 Navy, 2 USMC). U.S. troop strength is approximately 503,000, other coalition forces exceed 205,000.

32 nations have forces in place supporting OPERATION DESERT STORM (Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Syria, United Arab Emirates, United King dom, United States).

The United States has lost 23 aircraft (15 fixed-wing in combat, 3 fixed-wing in non combat mishaps, 5 helicopters lost in non-combat). Coalition has lost 9 aircraft. 33 Iraqi aircraft and 3 helos have been shot down in air-to air engagements with no United States losses.

Photo: A Victor of 55 Squadron refuelling a Tornado GR.1 and Buccaneer S.2 on their way to a target