In truth, the Saudi’s realized that with so much of their army far to the south, they would not be able to set up any cohesive defensive front along that long, vital pipeline. If the Iraqi Army was coming in force, it would be able to reach and cut that artery at any number of places, so the Generals began to lower heads over the map tables in the wee hours of the morning on the 25th, trying to decide just where they could make a stand.
In Kuwait, the resistance at the border would last only a few hours against the Republican Guard. The Kuwaiti Army then pulled back in an arc around Al Jahra, the gateway city west of the capital. They were going to try and hold there, and at Kuwait City, and if that failed, they had pre-arranged authorization to retreat into Saudi Arabia.
Those first tense hours in the darkness before dawn would reveal the extent of what the Iraqis might be planning. Summoning the Ambassador to Riyadh did no good, and he claimed to be clueless as to what was happening. For honor’s sake, the Saudis lodged a formal complaint and demanded all Iraqi forces withdraw from their sovereign soil, but that wasn’t going to happen.
The Iraqi response was to simply forge ahead, and by mid-day, they would have eleven brigades pushing south towards Hafar Al Batin, through difficult desert terrain. That area had been a kind of no man’s land, where the hostility of the terrain itself was the main obstacle to be overcome. It was a mix of sandy and stony desert, wrinkled by deep wadis, with occasional hills spiking up. The Iraqis could have moved from the border outpost town of Ar Ruqi down Highway 50 to Hafar Al Batin, but instead they moved due south along a narrow desert track, intending to bypass that city, essentially cutting it off. No matter where they went to the south, the Trans-Arabian Pipeline was dead ahead.
That afternoon, the Kuwaiti positions on the Al Jahra line were being assaulted from the north, while also being cut off far to the south as Iraqi forces pushed for Highway 70, which ran from Al Jahra to the beak of the southwest border zone. Enemy special forces battalions were also landing south of the city to set up blocking positions. It was soon evident that the position was hopeless, and it was now uncertain whether those troops, about five battalions, could even be extracted. When the Kuwaiti Emir learned this late on the 25th, he realized his small army had no chance to stop what was happening. All he could do was to try and salvage as many battalions as possible, and begin the retreat south to Saudi Arabia. That night, the soldiers were weeping as they abandoned the royal palace and capital city, and the Emir formally asked for asylum with the Saudis, for himself, the Royal family, and any Kuwaiti nationals that might escape. It was willingly granted.
Army Lt. General James Scott, Commander at OMCOM had met with his opposite number in the Saudi Army, Prince Sultan Akim, and convinced him that the effort to screen and hold Halfar Al Batin was a fruitless deployment.
“They will cut that pipeline somewhere soon, and holding there does nothing to prevent that. All you will do is see those forces screened and bypassed if this attack pushes further south. I would recommend that you move southeast, down Highway 85, and quickly, before that road is cut.”
“Abandon King Khalid Military City?”
“Holding it would leave all troops there isolated in time.”
“Yet it is a major supply center,” the Prince equivocated.
“Save what you can, but my recommendation stands.”
“And if the enemy continues down Highway 50? It will take them deep into our homeland, and if they were to reach Highway 65, then they would pose a direct threat to Riyadh.”
“That is a long way to go,” said Scott, adamant. “Should they attempt such a move, our 82nd airborne Division would be able to move an airmobile brigade out there to stop them. What you need to do is marshal your forces to protect the key oilfields and industrial infrastructure near the coast. You certainly don’t want to give up the oil terminals and port at Al Jubayl, Ras Tanura, or the facilities around Dammam. That is where they will make their main effort. Why come to Saudi Arabia if not for those refineries, pump stations, gas separation plants, and all the well sites?”
“What if they merely seek to cut the Trans-Arabian Pipeline?”
“With all respect, sir, they won’t stop there. I wouldn’t. They know that time is of the essence. Your army is dispersed, with many brigades in the south. Those oil fields and facilities are among the greatest prizes on earth, and if the Iraqi’s took this risk, courting open war with the United States in the bargain, then that’s where they are going—all the way to the fields at Ghawar.”
Prince Sultan Akim frowned, taking a deep breath. Then he nodded his assent. “I will order the northwest group to move as you advise.”
“Very well,” said the General. “This move will also allow you to join with any forces that can get south from the Kuwaiti Army, and that at least gives you some concentration north of these vital facilities along the coast.”
“And your forces? Your 82nd Division? When will they be coming?”
“Sir, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit has already crossed the causeway, along with the Bahrain Armored Brigade, to deploy in defense of Dammam. We have several more battalions to move from Oman, and expect three Brigade Combat Teams of the 82nd Airborne to be in country here within ten days—the first arriving tomorrow at King Fahd Air Base outside Dammam. Following them, we will have three full brigades of our 1st Marine Division coming by sea, but that arrival depends on our clearing the way through the Arabian sea.”
“Five brigades,” said the Prince, “assuming your navy prevails. Correct me if I am wrong, General Scott, but the last I heard, the Iraqi Army had at over fifty brigades…”
“Sir, when you see what a good US Brigade Combat Team can do on the ground, you will understand that numbers do not tell the real story here. We’re coming, and we’ll see this thing through to the bitter end. These forces I mention are just the tip of the spear. I can assure you that the United States is prepared to move heavy armored divisions here to make good on that commitment. The House of Saud has a very powerful friend.”
“Indeed,” said the Prince. “And it seems Qusay Hussein and his Iranian cohorts also have such a friend—and he lives in Beijing.”
“Hey LT, I got OMCOM on the radio again.”
“Those bastards are nervous today,” said Lieutenant Ives. He took the call, and when it was over he looked at Stoker, and ‘I told ya so’ look on his face.
“Why the shit eating grin?” said the Sergeant.
“It’s just like I told you,” said Ives. “OMCOM twisted the Saudi General’s arm, and they want all this shit out of here. The Colonel told me they’re going to pull out to the southeast, down Highway 85. We’re to go with them, and advise OMCOM on their progress.”
“So they finally got the message,” said Stoker. “Alright, I gassed up and we can move anytime you want. Better to get out in front. That way we can count the sheep as they go by. Any idea where they’re heading?”