A particularly fierce battle took place at Kuwait International Airport, where Iraqi troops, seemingly unaware that a retreat order had been issued to them, continued to fight against the coalition's advance.

A force composed of 40 amphibious assault ships was stationed off the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

At 4 a.m. on 24 February, after being shelled for months and under the constant threat of a gas attack, the U.S. 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions crossed into Kuwait.

The general pattern was that coalition troops would encounter Iraqi soldiers who would put up a brief fight before deciding to surrender.

As part of the retreat order, the Iraqis carried out a "scorched earth" policy that included setting hundreds of oil wells on fire in an effort to destroy the Kuwaiti economy.