The air phase of Desert Storm began on January 16. and continued until the cessation of hostilities. The allies shot down 42 Iraqi planes in aerial combat and damaged or destroyed 375 of Iraq's 594 hardened aircraft shelters. Total estimated Iraqi aircraft destruction ranges from 103 to 142 aircraft. Additionally, Iraq flew 122 aircraft to Iran for internment. Total Iraqi aircraft rendered combat ineffective during the air phase was 266 of their estimated 750 plane air force (approximately 35%). Allied losses were 90 planes (68 in combat, 22 to other causes). On 0100 24 February, the French Daguet Division, with the 2nd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division attached, crossed the undefended Iraqi border north of the Saudi town of Rafha. This action marked the beginning of the ground phase of Desert Storm. In most cases the Allies rapidly broke through the Saddam line. Breaching operations went sowell that General Schwarzkopf moved H-Hour forward for the other coalition forces. All the good guys had launched theirattacks by the afternoon of the 24th.
February 25. On the western flank, the 101st Air assault division airlifted a brigade to cut the last major road into the Kuwaiti theater of operations (the As Samawah-An Nasiriyah road). While the French Dauget division continued to advance north, covering the allies left flank. Due to the speed of the Allied advance Iraqi forces were unable to maneuver. The 45th and 49th Iraqi Divisions were heavily engaged by the French (Al Salam scenario) and elements of the American 24th Mechanized Division. In the center, the coalition VII Corps advanced into, and through, the Iraqi 7th Corps. The Iraqi 12th Tank Division, functioning as a mobile reserve behind the 7th Corps infantry screen was defeated in a night engagement with the British 1st Armored Division (Rats scenario) which had passed through the breach previously created by the U.S. 1st Infantry Division.
The 1st Cavalry Division, ordered to conduct a diversionary attack up the Wadi Al-Batin, appeared to be having a significant impact on the Iraqi's reaction. J-Stars surveillance indicated the Iraqi's were beginning to move their armored reserves south. The Iraqi's seemed to have no knowledge of the strong armored formations advancing up their right flank.
In the east all coalition forces completed their breaching of the Saddam line. The Marines had encountered virtually no resistance from the first line of Iraqi defenders on G-Day. The Iraqi's threw battalion and brigade sized armored formations in their path. The Iraqis were probably the divisional tank battalions of the III Corps Infantry divisions with tank brigades of the corps tank and mechanized divisions thrown in piecemeal. Marine units closed to within ten miles of Kuwait City. February 26. Saddam Hussein announced his forces were withdrawing from Kuwait. Whether the statement was issued as a ploy to attempt to get the allies to ease up or an actual execute command for the Iraq military's retreat is unclear. In the west, the French overcame the last resistance from the 45th Infantry Division and continued to screen the coalition's left flank. The 24 Mechanized Division, attached to the XVIII Airborne Corps, advanced north to An Nasiriyah, destroying the remnants of the Iraqi 49th Infantry Division.
In the center, the armored spearhead of the coalition'sVII corps encountered it's first serious opposition. The U. S. 1st Armored Division would destroy the Iraqi 26thInfantry Division, while the U.S. 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) became heavily engaged with the Republican Guard Tawakalna Mechanized Division, and two brigades of the Iraqi 12th Armored Division which were attempting to withdraw to the north. The 2nd ACR fought off numerous uncoordinated Iraqi attacks for nearly six hours until relieved by the 1st Armored, 3rd Armored and 1st Infantry Division.
Further south the British 1st Armored division engaged numerous Iraqi units attempting to retreat from the border. In the east, the 1st Marine Division fought a victorious pitched tank battle against the Iraqi 3rd Armored Division for Kuwaiti International Airport and entered the outskirts of Kuwait City. The 2nd Marine Division cut the road north of Kuwait City, and with the help of Tacair, destroyed over 2000 Iraqi vehicles.
By now, Baghdad was aware of the approximate position of VII Corps. The Republican Guard maneuvered to prevent the complete encirclement of the units remaining in Kuwait. Designated units, such as remnants of the 3rd Armored Division, were functioning as the Iraqi's rear guard. February 27th. The Iraqi's had fled Kuwait City, there would be no significant fighting as the Kuwaitis liberated their capital. In the center the climatic battle of the war occurred as elements of the U.S. VII Corps engaged and decisively defeated the remaining Iraqi Tank reserves (Madinah scenario). The Iraqi reserves consisted of the Republican Guard Madinah, Hammurabi Armored Divisions, remnants of the Tawakalna, and Adan Infantry Divisions supported by elements of the regular armies 52nd, 17th, and 12th Armored Divisions(the 12th had a long war). These reserves were tasked with blocking the final withdraw route out of Kuwait and despite losing the battle, did, in fact, enable the several Iraqi mechanized units to escape Kuwait. At 0800 on 28 February, with the U.S. VII Armored and XVIII Airborne Corps posed to crush the remaining Iraqi forces, the cease fire went into effect.