Introduction
The 'Gulf War' exploded onto TV screens around the world on August 2, 1990. Images of hopelessly outnumbered Kuwaiti troops being overrun by Iraqi 'veterans' of the Iran-Iraq war accompanied the news of the blitzkrieg reclamation of Iraq's so called '19th province'. Lost in the dust of the invasion was the story of Kuwait's 35th Brigade, a tank heavy brigade of three battalions, plus artillery. Though unable to stop the Iraqi juggernaut, the men of the 35th Brigade - under strength and equipped with older weapons - held off elements of two Republican Guard divisions for most of a day before withdrawing to Saudi Arabia.
As news of the Iraqi attack arrived at brigade headquarters, the 35th Brigade mobilized and rushed to deploy all available troops to repel the Iraqi invaders. Around 0630 hours (local) the last units of the 35th Brigade cleared the barracks camp and deployed west of Jahra covering the highways from the northern and western border areas. At approximately 0745 hours (local) a brigade of the Republican Guards 'Medina' division arrived at Jahra. Two brigades swung east on the ring road toward Kuwait City, the last brigade turned west on the ring road to secure the western approaches to the city and encircle the Kuwaiti 80th Brigade's barracks. The battle of Jahra had begun.
Map
Jahra Bridge The Kuwaiti 35th Brigade's Defense of Jahra August 2nd, 1990
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© Copyright 1997 by Greg Novak.
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