February 24, 1991

Gulf War

Coalition launches the Gulf War ground offensive

French scouts slipped into Iraq at 1 a.m. — three hours before the offensive’s famous four-o’clock start.

4:00 a.m., 24 February 1991

The main U.S.-led coalition ground offensive began from Saudi Arabia at 4:00 a.m. local time on 24 February 1991, attacking north into occupied Kuwait and into southern Iraq.

Marine and Arab coalition formations pushed toward Kuwait City while VII Corps, with the British 1st Armoured Division, began the western “left hook” into Iraq, aimed at engaging the Republican Guard and cutting Iraqi withdrawal routes. An official U.S. Army history records French scouts entering Iraq at 1:00 a.m., three hours ahead of the French main body.

The obstacle belt gave way faster than planned

Coalition forces breached barbed wire, minefields, antitank ditches and oil-filled fire trenches more quickly than planners had expected, and Iraqi troops began surrendering in large numbers within hours.

The 2nd Marine Division captured the Iraqi 9th Tank Battalion substantially intact — 35 T-55 tanks and more than 5,000 men.

Where the first day ended

By the close of 24 February the I Marine Expeditionary Force had advanced about 20 miles into Kuwait and taken nearly 10,000 Iraqi prisoners.

The listing describes only a crossing into Kuwait. Major coalition formations drove into southern Iraq at the same time, as the deliberate western turning movement.

Kuwait City was not liberated that day either: coalition and Kuwaiti forces entered it on 27 February.

Sources

Researched 24 Aug 2026 5 sources not yet audited

How this was checked

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What the sources leave uncertain

The 4:00 a.m. time refers to the main-body offensive. An official U.S. Army history records that French scouts entered Iraq at 1:00 a.m., three hours before the French main body attacked.
Sources count coalition participation differently. U.S. Navy and Defense Department histories commonly describe forces from 35 nations, while broader political-support lists sometimes count 42 countries.