A controversial U.S. armored attack on withdrawing Iraqi forces two days after the Gulf War ceasefire was declared, raising questions about battlefield ethics.
Key Facts
- Date
- March 2, 1991
- Days after ceasefire
- 2 days
- U.S. unit
- 24th Infantry Division
- U.S. commander
- Major General Barry McCaffrey
- Location
- Near Rumaila oil field, Euphrates Valley, southern Iraq
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following Iraq's defeat in the Gulf War, President Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28, 1991. Iraqi Republican Guard armored units began withdrawing northward through the Euphrates Valley near the Rumaila oil field, creating a large column of retreating forces in the immediate aftermath of hostilities.
On March 2, 1991, two days after the ceasefire declaration, U.S. Army forces of the 24th Infantry Division under Major General Barry McCaffrey engaged a large column of withdrawing Iraqi Republican Guard armored forces near Rumaila. The attack nearly annihilated the Iraqi column and was conducted despite the declared end of hostilities.
The battle became one of the most controversial engagements of the Gulf War, sparking debate over whether the attack on withdrawing troops after a ceasefire was legally and morally justified. McCaffrey faced scrutiny and subsequent investigations into his conduct during the engagement, making it a lasting point of contention in Gulf War history.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Major General Barry McCaffrey.
Side B
1 belligerent