Highway of Death

A long road is called the Highway of Death.

It is in a land called Kuwait. Long ago, a war happened there. Many Iraqi soldiers used the road. They tried to leave Kuwait in many vehicles.

Planes from other lands attacked the group. This caused a big traffic jam. Many tanks and cars were left on the road.

It was a very sad time for many people. The road was fixed after the war ended.

Highway 80 is a large road in the Middle East. It connects Kuwait to Iraq.

During the Gulf War in 1991, Iraqi soldiers used this road. They were trying to leave Kuwait. Many planes from a group called the Coalition attacked the group.

The planes hit the vehicles. This created a massive traffic jam. Many tanks and cars were left on the road.

Some people call this spot the "Mile of Death." The road had hundreds of stuck vehicles. Some were tanks. Others were buses and cars. Many people died in the attack. Experts think at least 800 to 1,000 people died. Some people argued about the attack. They wondered if it was fair to hit soldiers who were leaving. Later, the road was fixed. It was used again during a different war in 2003. Today, it is a known part of history.

Highway 80 is a large, six-lane road in the Middle East.

It connects Kuwait City to the border town of Safwan in Iraq. From there, the road continues to the Iraqi city of Basra. This road is very important for travel between these places. However, it is also known by a different name. Many people call it the "Highway of Death." This name comes from a very serious event that happened there.

The name comes from the Gulf War in 1991. During this time, Iraqi military forces were trying to leave Kuwait.

On the night of February 26 and 27, aircraft from the Coalition attacked them. This group included planes from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Canada. The planes used special bombs to hit the vehicles. This caused a huge traffic jam on the highway. The vehicles were stuck and could not move forward or backward. One part of the road near Mutla Ridge became a line of 300 stuck vehicles. Some people called this specific spot the "Mile of Death."

The attack caused a lot of destruction to many types of vehicles.

There were at least 28 tanks and armored vehicles found in the wreckage. Many other vehicles were civilian cars and buses. Some of these buses were filled with property taken from Kuwait. Between 1,400 and 2,000 vehicles were hit or left behind on the main road. Many people died during these attacks. While the exact number is unknown, some studies suggest the death toll was at least 800 to 1,000 people. Some soldiers managed to escape by driving into the desert or the nearby swamps.

This event caused a lot of debate among people around the world. Some people argued that the attack was not fair. They believed the soldiers were retreating and should not have been hit. Others pointed to international laws about how to treat soldiers. These laws say that people who are no longer fighting are protected. However, other experts said that retreating is still a military action. There were also reports about whether civilian refugees were in the columns. These difficult questions made the highway a very famous part of the war's history.

Even though the road saw such sadness, it was eventually fixed. After the Gulf War ended, workers repaired the highway. It was used again later during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. U.S. and British forces used the road during that time. Today, the highway is a real place that people still use for travel. It serves as a reminder of the events that happened in 1991. The images of the broken vehicles remain some of the most famous sights from that war.

Highway 80 is a major six-lane road in the Middle East.

It connects Kuwait City to the Iraqi border town of Safwan. From there, the road continues to the city of Basra in Iraq. While its official name is Highway 80, it is widely known as the "Highway of Death." This name refers to a massive military engagement during the Gulf War. The event took place on the night of February 26 and 27, 1991. It remains one of the most recognizable and debated moments of that conflict.

The event began when Iraqi military forces attempted to leave Kuwait.

As they retreated, they were targeted by a Coalition of forces. This group included aircraft and ground units from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Canada. The attack used a specific method to trap the retreating forces. U.S. Marine A-6 Intruder jets used Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster bombs. These bombs hit the head and tail of the vehicle column. This action created an enormous traffic jam that boxed the Iraqi forces in.

The mechanism of the attack lasted for approximately ten hours. Various aircraft from the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy participated. Some planes launched from the USS Ranger to strike the convoy.

Vehicles that survived the initial air strikes were later engaged by Coalition ground units. For those that managed to drive north through the jam, they were targeted individually. One specific bottleneck occurred near the Mutla Ridge police station. This area became a line of over 300 stuck vehicles. Some people referred to this specific section as the "Mile of Death."

The destruction on the highway was extensive and involved many types of machinery.

Investigators found at least 28 tanks and other armored vehicles among the wreckage. The column also included many commandeered civilian cars and buses. Some of these buses were filled with property taken from Kuwait. In total, between 1,400 and 2,000 vehicles were hit or abandoned on the main highway north of Al Jahra. The wreckage included various models, such as T-54 and T-55 tanks.

Determining the exact number of people killed remains difficult. The total death toll is not officially known. However, different studies provide varying estimates. A study by the Project on Defense Alternatives (PDA) suggested that at least 500 to 600 deaths were plausible. Other estimates suggest the total number of fatalities along both highways could be at least 800 to 1,000. This includes a separate engagement involving the Hammurabi Division near the Battle of Rumaila. Many soldiers tried to escape the carnage by fleeing into the desert or nearby swamps.

The events on Highway 80 caused significant international controversy. Some commentators argued that the use of force was disproportionate. They noted that the Iraqi units were retreating in compliance with United Nations resolutions. There were also concerns that the columns included civilian refugees or hostages. Legal experts debated the application of the Third Geneva Convention. This convention protects soldiers who are "hors de combat," or out of combat. Some argued the retreating soldiers were protected, while others argued that retreating is a military action that removes that status.

Today, the highway serves as a historical landmark of the Gulf War. The road was eventually repaired after the conflict ended. It was later used by U.S. and British forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The imagery of the destroyed column has entered popular culture in many ways. It has been mentioned in poems, songs, and even video games. These references reflect how deeply the images of the highway impacted the world's view of the war. The site remains a somber example of modern mechanized warfare.