February 24, 1991 · Kuwait / Iraq Theater
February 24, 1991
At 4:00 a.m. on February 24, 1991, 300,000 coalition troops surged into Kuwait and Iraq in the largest ground offensive since World War II. Schwarzkopf's masterstroke was the 'Left Hook' — VII Corps (with 1,500 tanks) and XVIII Airborne Corps made a massive sweeping maneuver 300 miles into the Iraqi desert to the west, far beyond the Iraqi defensive lines, then pivoted east to encircle Kuwait and cut off the Republican Guard's retreat. Marines breached Iraqi minefields and berms directly into Kuwait, pinning Saddam's forces in place while the main blow fell on their flank. Iraqi resistance in most sectors collapsed within hours.
Commanders