Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 21, 1991 TAG: 9102210387
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun
DATELINE: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA LENGTH: Medium
Saying they were following their campaign plan, U.S. commanders appeared to open a new phase by attacking more distant targets and putting more U.S. ground units into action. Air strikes increased in number, as commanders have said they would immediately before a major ground assault.
In one of the two major clashes, one U.S. soldier was killed and seven others were wounded south of the Saudi-Kuwait border. American spokesmen said the men were members of a company-size unit that encountered Iraqi infantry, tanks and artillery north of the border.
U.S. forces involved in the action destroyed five Iraqi tanks and 20 artillery pieces and captured seven soldiers. Spokesmen said two armored U.S. vehicles were damaged by artillery fire.
Within 15 minutes of that clash, four U.S. helicopters crossed the Saudi border to attack an Iraqi bunker complex with rocket fire. Brig. Gen. Richard Neal, the American military spokesman, said 450 to 500 Iraqis there surrendered after the helicopters destroyed at least 13 bunkers.
As of Wednesday night, transport helicopters with U.S. soldiers acting as a security force were taking the Iraqis to a prisoner of war camp in Saudi Arabia. No estimates were available about the number of Iraqis killed or wounded during the attack.
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, the allied commander, was described as elated by the news of the largest mass Iraqi surrender to date. But U.S. and allied officers express doubts that every unit will be as willing to lay down its arms.
"There are still a lot of Iraqi soldiers and a lot of Iraqi tanks and a lot of Iraqi artillery pieces and armored vehicles in the Kuwaiti theater of operations," said Lt. Gen. Thomas Kelly, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "If we get a mission to move ground forces into Kuwait to defeat that army, I think we will be efficient . . . but it's not going to be a snap."
Judged by briefings with reporters, commanders are torn between satisfaction with the results of five weeks of air strikes and concern about the capabilities of Iraq's remaining ground forces.
Officers say a substantial number of units, including most of the elite Republican Guard, appear willing to fight pitched ground battles.
by CNB