Khaled Al-Otaishan on Kuwait Invasion: How Khafji Turned into a Military Zone -1
In the early hours of August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invaded neighboring Kuwait and occupied the country, in a critical turning point in the Middle East’s history. In the light of this, the former Governor of Khafji, Khaled Al-Otaishan, gave an eyewitness account of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
During an interview with the “Liwan” program, Al-Otaishan recounted how the situation unfolded in Khafji Governorate, after the then-Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, arrived at the Khafji border crossing.
Relocating to Khafji
The Kuwaiti Emir decided to watch the situation closely from Khafji. However, after Kuwaiti authorities realized that it was a full-scale invasion and the Iraqi forces were advancing rapidly into Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber’s security team urged him to relocate to Khafji for his safety, along with then-Crown Prince Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and the head of the Kuwaiti National Guard.
According to Al-Otaishan, 50 members of the Kuwaiti ruling family crossed into Saudi territories, seeking refuge in Khafji.
Khafji became the location of the first Kuwaiti Cabinet meeting in exile, chaired by Crown Prince Sheikh Saad, and attended by key ministers such as then-Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (later Emir of Kuwait).
The meeting addressed security concerns over the potential infiltration of Iraqi intelligence agents posing as refugees. As a result, Kuwaiti officials underscored the need for enhancing screening measures to ensure no infiltration of Saudi territory.
Accommodating Kuwaiti Refugees
Saudi Arabia’s leadership granted Al-Otaishan full authority to take actions to support Kuwaiti refugees. Therefore, Al-Otaishan gave orders to establish hospitality centers, convert vacant schools into shelters, and assign Al-Birr Charitable Society to oversee food distribution.
Moreover, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd personally provided a large sum of money to cover the initial costs until government arrived.
Military Zone
Strategically located near the Kuwaiti borders, Khafji was expected to become a battleground, prompting the Saudi military leadership to fully evacuate the city and transform it into a military zone.
Hence, Saudi military commanders told Al-Otaishan that Khafji needed defensive preparations. This included an order to evacuate around 65,000 residents, who were transported primarily to Dammam and other Saudi cities via government-arranged buses.
Khafji remained closed to civilians for three months, amid intensifying military operations.
