Editing Gulf War (section)

===Liberation of Kuwait===
{{Main|Liberation of Kuwait campaign}}
{{See also|Order of battle of the Gulf War ground campaign}}
[[File:3 AD Iraq.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|US [[M1A1 MBT|M1A1 Abrams]] tanks from the [[3rd Armored Division (United States)|3rd Armored Division]] along the Line of Departure]]

US decoy attacks by air attacks and naval gunfire the night before Kuwait's liberation were designed to make the Iraqis believe the main coalition ground attack would focus on central Kuwait.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} For months, American units in Saudi Arabia had been under almost constant Iraqi artillery fire, as well as threats from Scud missiles and chemical attacks. On 24 February 1991, the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions and the 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion crossed into Kuwait and headed toward Kuwait City. They encountered trenches, barbed wire, and minefields. However, these positions were poorly defended, and were overrun in the first few hours. Several tank battles took place, but otherwise coalition troops encountered minimal resistance, as most Iraqi troops surrendered. The general pattern was that the Iraqis would put up a short fight before surrendering. However, Iraqi air defenses shot down nine US aircraft. Meanwhile, forces from Arab states advanced into Kuwait from the east, encountering little resistance and suffering few casualties.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

Despite the successes of coalition forces, it was feared that the Iraqi Republican Guard would escape into Iraq before it could be destroyed. It was decided to send British armored forces into Kuwait 15 hours ahead of schedule, and to send US forces after the Republican Guard. The coalition advance was preceded by a heavy artillery and rocket barrage, after which 150,000 troops and 1,500 tanks began their advance. Iraqi forces in Kuwait counterattacked against US troops, acting on a direct order from Saddam Hussein himself. Despite the intense combat, the Americans repulsed the Iraqis and continued to advance towards Kuwait City.{{sfnp|Bourque|2001|p=375}}

Kuwaiti forces were tasked with liberating the city. Iraqi troops offered only light resistance. The Kuwaitis quickly liberated the city despite losing one soldier and having one plane shot down.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} On 27 February, {{Citation needed span|text=Saddam ordered a retreat from Kuwait,|date=February 2023}} and President Bush declared it liberated.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosenthal |first=Andrew |date=1991-02-28 |title=War in the Gulf: Bush Halts Offensive Combat; Kuwait Freed, Iraqis Crushed |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/28/world/war-in-the-gulf-bush-halts-offensive-combat-kuwait-freed-iraqis.html |access-date=2023-02-26 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> However, an Iraqi unit at Kuwait International Airport appeared not to have received the message and fiercely resisted. US Marines had to fight for hours before securing the airport, after which Kuwait was declared secure. After four days of fighting, Iraqi forces were expelled from Kuwait.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} As part of a [[scorched earth]] policy, they [[Kuwaiti oil fires|set fire to nearly 700 oil wells]] and placed land mines around the wells to make extinguishing the fires more difficult.<ref>{{cite web|last=International|first=Radio Canada|date=2015-11-06|title=History: November 6, 1991 Canadians cap the last oil fire in the Gulf War|url=https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/11/06/history-november-6-1991-canadians-cap-the-last-oil-fire-in-the-gulf-war/|access-date=2021-03-25|website=RCI {{!}} English}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2023}}