Iraq launched its invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2 at 2.00 a.m. (local time), when of the 100,000 Iraqi troops massed on Kuwait's northern border an estimated 30,000 soldiers, including elite Republican Guards, crossed in the first assault.
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Despite the increased tension between Kuwait and Iraq during late July, Iraq's invasion appeared to take the small Kuwaiti Armed Forces by surprise. Iraqi troops advanced swiftly across the desert, encountering only minor artillery resistance, and entered the capital, Kuwait City, at around 7.00 a.m. The advancing ground troops were provided with substantial air support, with fighter bombers attacking key installations in and around the city, including the airport. In Kuwait City itself the Iraqi forces met some opposition from elite troops guarding the Amir's palace and from troops stationed in Army and Air Force barracks situated on the city's outskirts. The Amir and the Crown Prince had both been transported by helicopter to Saudi Arabia at an early stage of the invasion.
By mid-afternoon Iraqi troops had taken control of most of Kuwait City centre, although fierce fighting continued well into the evening at Shuwaikh, the main Army barracks north of the capital. Iraqi forces also landed on Bubiyan and Warba islands. Early reports suggested that between 100 and 200 people were killed during the invasion, including the Amir's half-brother, Shaikh Fahd al-Ahmad al Sabah. However, later reports indicated that the casualty toll might have been much higher. The Independent of Aug. 7, for instance, claimed that fighting between Iraqi forces and the Kuwait Maghaweer brigade at Al Jahra barracks on Aug. 2 had resulted in over 1,000 deaths.
The civilian population in Kuwait appeared to be stunned by the invasion, and although some immediately tried to escape into Saudi Arabia most simply remained in their homes. Some reports suggested that the invasion was supported by large numbers of the estimated 400,000 Palestinian workers in Kuwait, all of whom had previously been denied Kuwaiti citizenship despite constituting the backbone of the country's middle-management structure. Over 1,000,000 other expatriates lived in Kuwait, more than half of whom were south or south-east Asian.
The deposed Kuwaiti government established its base in the Saudi mountain resort of Taif, although the Amir and his ministers spent much of their time travelling the world to bolster opposition to the invasion. Resistance within Kuwait was initially sporadic but became increasingly organized during August. However, the resistance or al Muquwama posed little threat to the Iraqis, consisting in the main of poorly armed civilian-led neighbourhood committees. A resistance radio station, Huna Kuwait ("This Is Kuwait"), broadcast intermittently in Kuwait.
This article comes from Keesings Worldwide Online
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