Khaled Al-Otaishan on Kuwait Invasion: Saudi Battalion Defends Khafji against Iraqi Brigade -2

During an interview with the “Liwan” program, the former Governor of Khafji, Khaled Al-Otaishan, unveiled the details of the battle of Khafji, taking place on January 30, 1991, during which a Saudi battalion defeated an entire Iraqi brigade.

The battle of Khafji took place during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, which started on August 2, 1990, when Iraqi forces invaded neighboring Kuwait and occupied the country, in a critical turning point in the Middle East’s history.

Battle of Khafji

In a propaganda maneuver by Iraq’s leadership, an entire Iraqi brigade entered Khafji, in an effort to claim that Iraqi forces had succeeded in penetrating Saudi Arabia’s territory.

After occupying Khafji for 24 hours, the Saudi military launched a swift counteroffensive, led by a Saudi National Guard battalion. In a rapid and precise assault, supported by superior tactics and coordination, the Saudi battalion conquered the Iraqi brigade within 8 hours.

Defeating Iraqi Brigade

Furthermore, the Saudi military launched airstrikes against Iraqi military positions to prevent any counterattack. As a result, the Saudi military liberated Khafji within just 24 hours.

As they withdrew, the Iraqi forces planted landmines across Khafji and along the border to impede any further advances. In response, a Saudi engineering unit took the dangerous task of clearing mines, a process that took nearly a month.