Despite the diplomatic tension and the Iraqi buildup on the border, no central orders were issued to the Kuwaiti armed forces and they were not on alert.

[2] Another challenge resulted from the fact that neither Hamdani nor his troops held any enmity for the Kuwaitis and therefore planned to minimise casualties, military and civilian.

Hamdani went so far as to require his tanks to fire only high-explosive shells, instead of sabot (Armour Piercing) in an attempt to “frighten the occupants, but not destroy the vehicle.”[6] The Kuwait 35th Armored Brigade of the Kuwaiti Army had been put on alert at 22:00 on 1 August.

Kuwait sources claim this careless behaviour and a consistent failure to use communications were to be a defining feature of Iraqi units in the battle.

[3] Iraqi documents mention no major delay as less than two hours later the commander of the 17th Brigade, Brigadier General Hamdani, saw three green flares indicating a successful and bloodless mission.

[2] According to Kuwaitis at 11:00 elements of the Medinah Armoured Division of the Iraqi Republican Guard approached along Highway 70 from the west, the direction of the 35th Brigade's camp.

[3] Iraqis claim poor communications led to delay in Medinah Armoured Division's mission which facilitated the escape of large numbers of Kuwait residents and military units to Saudi Arabia.