1973_border_skirmish 1973_Samita_border_skirmish

known , designated samita (arabic meaning: quiet ) skirmish; however, proper border post in reference sanita referred northern border area post on kuwaiti border iraq , accordingly skirmish designated such.

on december 26, 1972, kuwait sent delegation of members of national assembly of kuwait iraq. kuwaiti delegation met saddam hussein, deputy president of iraq, , discussed border demarcation between kuwait , iraq , need resolve conflict. kuwaiti delegation met iraqi president ahmed hassan al-bakr, assured members of delegation border situation resolved. accordingly, on february 26, 1973, kuwaiti delegation headed sheikh sabah al-ahmad al-jaber al-sabah, kuwait s minister of foreign affairs, visited iraq , remained until march 2, 1973.

kuwaiti , iraqi authorities conducted several meetings in iraqi authorities claimed warbah island , bubiyan island part of iraq due importance major water channels trade of iraq , significant geopolitical strategic points. in response, visiting delegation stated kuwait not cede of territories , if territories needed joint economic development purposes, kuwait spare no effort in realizing such endeavor advancing exclusively humanitarianism through concession emir of kuwait within formalization of mission approach , following finalization of border demarcations. kuwaiti delegation setting leave iraq on march 3, 1973, iraqi government proposed agreement between kuwait , iraq enhance capabilities of iraq in expanding trade through kuwait. kuwaiti delegation willing cooperate long territories not compromised unjustifiably. in response, government of iraq , leadership @ time withdrew proposal , started applying pressure.

in meantime , due history of restrained , calm disputes, kuwait border posts rotated between soldiers of kuwait armed forces , kuwait police. on march 20, 1973 @ 0300, crisis occurred between kuwait , iraq based on land demarcations iraq claiming. units of iraqi military advanced kuwaiti border police station, secured members of kuwait border guards, , asked border guards vacate premises. when officer in charge refused, iraqi forces heavily combat engaged lightly guarded border post. border guards troops held ground , battled heavily armed iraqi force throughout night , morning. skirmish wounded several , claimed lives of first lieutenant in charge , corporal. result, kuwait declared state of emergency , borders sealed.

immediately after, mubarak abdullah al-jaber al-sabah , deputy brigadier general sheikh saleh mohammed al-sabah mobilized kuwait armed forces , led deployment towards border iraq in preparation worst. kuwaiti combat quick reaction force contingent led kuwaiti colonel assisted lieutenant-colonel, consisting of elements of kuwait army , kuwait air force. combat reaction force included commando force led kuwaiti lieutenant colonel being combat supported armored tank brigade , 2 supersonic english electric lightning fighter aircraft tasked engaging area of conflict required , remain acting armed air vanguards patrollers , monitor area umm qasr in east safwan in west.

in response assembling of kuwait armed forces mubarak , saleh, iraqi authorities issued statement @ 1300 on march 20, 1973, claiming kuwaiti forces aggressors, intruding in iraqi territory while iraqi military untis conducting military drills , result iraqi military responded force. in response, kuwait authorities issued similar statement claiming assault on sanita post assault of kuwaiti territory , subsequently assault on kuwait. in addition, kuwaiti statement added assault occurred during time when kuwait expecting iraqi delegation iraq come kuwait , settle demarcation of borders between 2 countries, based on agreement baghdad signed on october 4, 1963. iraqi government proposed iraqi military , military of kuwait should pull 10 km assaulted post. accordingly, kuwaiti authorities refused proposition , requested arab league demand iraq pull forces demarcation line set arab league forces during operation vantage. also, kuwaiti authorities insisted on withdrawal of iraqi military units sanita border post , demanded settle demarcation of borders between kuwait , iraq. consequently, border dispute shaping governed political resolution.