Word: khafji
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Allied forces recaptured that town, the sprawling beachside community of Khafji, within a day, but victory came only after bitter street fighting. Artillery duels along the Saudi-Kuwaiti border and firefights between U.S. Marines and groups of Iraqi troops crossing that border continued into the weekend...
There were wildly confusing stories: of as many as 60,000 Iraqi troops massing around the town of Al Wafra, 37 miles from Khafji; of a column of 800 to 1,000 tanks and armored vehicles in that area -- or maybe it was a phantom -- moving south toward the Saudi border or north, away from it, under massive allied air attack or perhaps not. Late in the week allied commanders said they saw no pattern in Iraqi movements that would presage further raids...
...Khafji was a probing attack, perhaps the precursor of more. Saddam's forces have no spy satellites and have been unable or unwilling even to send reconnaissance planes into Saudi airspace. The only way Iraqi generals can find out how many troops, artillery and tanks are massing at which spots along the border is to send troops across to engage them...
...Fighting raged again yesterday in the beach town-turned-battleground of Khafji, which has changed hands twice in as many days. A Saudi general called Iraq's attack on the town a "suicide mission...
...Khafji crossing point on the Saudi-Kuwait border last week, air- conditioned Mercedes-Benz and other late-model sedans lined up by the hundreds. Their passengers told stories of beatings, looting and nights full of gunfire. While there is still food in the shops, they said, rationing had begun, and Iraqis had first claim on all supplies. Other refugees told of shootings, explosions and summary executions of suspected resistance fighters...