Pres. Gorbachev presents F.M. Aziz another formula for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait; details of proposal not announced. Aziz heads back to Baghdad via Iran. Bush admin. indicates there is nothing...
Arab members of coalition end 2-day meeting in Cairo, find Baghdad's conditions for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait unacceptable, call on Saddam to leave "without conditions or strings" [MENA 2/16 in...
Iraq vows "severe revenge" for 2/13 bombing of what Baghdad calls residential shelter; places death toll at about 400; demonstrators throw red paint on abandoned U.S. embassy in Baghdad; "outrage...
SCUD missile fired at Israel lands in uninhabited area, 2d missile hits residential area, light injuries are reported; missile launched at Riyadh is intercepted by Patriot missile [SPA, IDF 2/11,...
In separate statements Iran and USSR say they are waiting for "signal" from Saddam Hussein that he is ready for peace before making any new mediation efforts in Gulf war [MEM 2/5; LAT 2/6].
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Pres. Gorbachev presents F.M. Aziz another formula for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait; details of proposal not announced. Aziz heads back to Baghdad via Iran. Bush admin. indicates there is nothing in Soviet proposal that would delay or halt planned ground attack (cf. 2/19) [MEM 2/18; NYT, LAT, WP, WT, CSM 2/19].
Allies continue "battlefield preparation" for ground war with more than 2,400 sorties flown; F-16 Falcon crashes in combat, pilot is recovered; it is 21st U.S. plane lost in combat, 9 additional allied crafts have been lost [NYT, LAT 2/19].
Border skirmishes continue between U.S. forces and Iraqi troops; no casualties are reported; to date 14 Americans have been killed in combat, 10 by friendly fire [NYT, LAT, WT 2/19].
Hearing is held in Gaza military court for Palestinian journalist Taher Shriteh, in jail for 3 weeks without formal charge; court extends detention for 2 more weeks (cf. 2/19) [NYT, LAT, WT, MEM 2/19].
Lebanese Pres. Elias Hrawi says he plans to press Israel to withdraw from "security zone" in S. Lebanon; Israeli spokesman says Israel will not comply [NYT 2/19].
Red Cross president says blanket curfew in effect in o.t. since 1/17 has created serious problems for Palestinians; adds that Red Cross is in contact with Israeli authorities to try to alleviate harsh conditions [JTE 2/18 in FBIS 2/191.
Arab members of coalition end 2-day meeting in Cairo, find Baghdad's conditions for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait unacceptable, call on Saddam to leave "without conditions or strings" [MENA 2/16 in FBIS 2/19; NYT 2/17]; countries also propose economic and defense arrangements to improve Middle East postwar security [WP 2/17], and reaffirm support for Palestinian state, without mention of PLO [MEM 2/18].
Soviet Union concludes conditions set by Baghdad for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait would render its 2/15 proposal meaningless [NYT, WP 2/17].
2 U.S. A-10 fighter-bombers are short down over Kuwait: Iraq says 130 civilians killed on 2/14 when British bombs hit marketplace in Falluja [AFP 2/16 in FBIS 2/19; NYT 2/17]. Iraq launches 2 SCUD missiles at southern Israel; no damage [JAA 2/16 in FBIS 2/19; NYT, MEM 2/18].
Likud supporters criticize MKs Dedi Zucker and Chaim Oron for their 2/13 report on settlement construction (see JPS 79), saying report led U.S. admin. to delay granting $400 million in housing loan guarantees [IDF 2/16 in FBIS 2/19].
As Israeli authorities continue selectively to release Palestinian workers from war-induced curfew, many Palestinians are finding Soviet Jewish immigrants have taken over their jobs, according to New York Times [NYT 2/17].
PLO revolutionary courts condemn to death, then execute, 20 Fateh members who had rebelled againstheir commander earlier in the week [NYT 2/17].
Yasir Arafat arrives in Amman from Iraq to meet King Hussein [NYT 2/17].
Iraq vows "severe revenge" for 2/13 bombing of what Baghdad calls residential shelter; places death toll at about 400; demonstrators throw red paint on abandoned U.S. embassy in Baghdad; "outrage" over bombing is reported in Jordan, other Arab nations that back Saddam [AVP, APS 2/14, DUS 2/15 in FBIS 2/15; MEM 2/14; LAT, NYT, WP, WT 2/15].
U.S. reports significant gains in destroying Iraqi tanks and combat vehicles, saying more than 1,300 tanks have been destroyed; carrier USS America moves into Gulf in preparation for possible Marine amphibious landing [LAT, NYT, WP, WT 2/15].
UN Sec. Council, holding formal session behind closed doors for 1st time in 15 years, begins major debate over scope of Gulf war [WP, LAT 2/15].
Marking 9th anniversary of Israeli annexation of Golan Heights, hundreds of Syrians come to Ain Tine and shout with bullhorns greetings and words of encouragement to friends and family in Majdal Shams, now controlled by Israel [NYT 2/15].
In 1st collective statement of Gulf war since hostilities began, leaders of more than 20 major Protestant and Orthodox Christian denominations, join with 15 Roman Catholic bishops, and many other denominations in reaffirming opposition to war and calling for cease-fire. Statement from 32 denominations is made public by National Council of Churches [MEM 2/14; NYT 2/15].
Soviet press is becoming increasingly critical of Gulf war, following Pres. Gorbachev's recent statements that war may be exceeding UN resolutions [NYT 2/15].
Cuba and Yemen circulate new peace plan at UN Sec. Council closed-door meeting calling for halt to allied bombing and UN commission to study possible solutions to crisis [NYT 2/15].
Curfew is lifted in Gaza; 14 Palestinians are wounded in clashes with IDF troops, who fire live ammunition and tear gas into crowds [HAD 2/15 in FBIS 2/15].
SCUD missile fired at Israel lands in uninhabited area, 2d missile hits residential area, light injuries are reported; missile launched at Riyadh is intercepted by Patriot missile [SPA, IDF 2/11, IDF 2/12 in FBIS 2/12; LAT, NYT, WP, WT, MEM 2/12].
As part of previously announced aid package, Germany delivers to Israel check for $3.3 million to help repair missile damage to Tel Aviv [LAT, MEM 2/12].
Environmental experts say oil slick in Gulf will severely damage Gulf states' fishing industry [LAT 2/12].
Israeli D.M. Moshe Arens meets with Pres. Bush, other U.S. officials in Washington; Arens describes "casualties and damage that have affected the Israeli civilian population" [IDF 2/11 in FBIS 2/12; LAT, NYT, WP, WT 2/12].
Iraqi cabinet min. Abdullah Fadel says "thousands" of Iraqi civilians have been killed in allied bombing raids, and adds that several mosques and churches have been destroyed; U.S. calls statement "propaganda" [NYT 2/12].
Pentagon offers cumulative U.S. combat losses: 12 killed in action, 12 wounded, 28 missing, and 8 POWs, with 18 aircraft lost in combat. More defections push number of Iraqi POWs past 1,000 [NYT, WP 2/12].
P.M. Major meets in Bonn with Chancellor Kohl to discuss Gulf war; King Hussein meets in Amman with Chrmn. Arafat [ADS 2/11 in FBIS 2/12; NYT 2/12].
Knesset rejects 3 motions of no-confidence submitted because of continuing curfew in o.t. [IDF 2/11 in FBIS 2/12].
In separate statements Iran and USSR say they are waiting for "signal" from Saddam Hussein that he is ready for peace before making any new mediation efforts in Gulf war [MEM 2/5; LAT 2/6].
For 2d time in 6 days, U.S. ambassador to Jordan Roger Harrison is summoned in Amman to explain U.S. position on bombing raids on civilian highway leading from Baghdad to Jordanian border [LAT, WT 2/6].
French foreign ministry announces that Palestinians in o.t. will receive gas masks from the EC [LAT 2/6].
Israeli police say they have detained 10 Israeli Arabs on charges of spying for Iraq [LAT 2/6].
Israel decides to implement 3-stage plan to gradually allow Palestinians, who have been under curfew since war began, to leave their homes, but warns that pro-Iraq demonstrations could cause curfew to be reinstated [JPD 2/6 in FBIS 2/7; NYT, WP, MEM 2/6; LAT 2/7].
IDF mounts broad attacks against Palestinian strongholds in S. Lebanon, killing 12 and wounding 25; Palestinians return fire with rockets [IDF, BVL 2/5 in FBIS 2/5; IDF 2/6 in FBIS 2/6; NYT 2/6].