European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 01, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                . 49, no. 291 Friday february 1, 1991 3&c daily and 50c sunday a act d 8693 a All pay Efrom wire reports saudi troops backed by . Marines thursday took Back the coastal town that saw the persian Gulf wars first sustained ground fighting the saudi military said. But Frob Dine commanders said they suspected the iraqis were planning an even larger attack. In Washington a Pentagon source said a . Planet Quot had been shot  . Military spokesman in Riyadh said officials were checking an unconfirmed report that the plane was an ec-130, an air Force plane that can be used  Battlefield command and control jamming a Nev Conr Muni Catsoris broadcasting propaganda. Israel augean whiff said an iraqi Send Type missile struck the occupied West Bank but there were immediate reports injury damage. It was the eighth Quot h Ali missile attack aimed at Israel since the War began. By mid morning in Khanji the remnants an iraqi armoured column were cornered and under siege by . Artillery. By evening. Saudi forces had completed the recapture the town Allied officials said. However  Shell saudi,.qatari and american forces according Western reporters in Khanji according initial reports 16 1 iraqi soldiers were captured in the Battle. Brig. Gen. Pat Stevens in told reporters in Riyadh. Saudi officials said a Large portion iraqi tanks and equipment were destroyed. Iraqis official news Agency thursday quoted the news a Quot continued Back Page m i#9 a i a. $ 4 a. Is a it a. A it is a Quot it women gis captured Iraq claims Nicosia Cyprus apr Iraq said thursday that it was holding female american soldiers As prisoners and that ii would treat them Well a in accordance with the spirit the lofty islamic Laws a the official iraqi news Agency monitored in Nicosia said that the women were among Ameri v a a Tami Rife a get x it 1 \ a i u cd mar headed  the front War i the Gulf. .o.?. A see i pages2 through 8, 13through a a Marine cobra gunship thursday hovers Over a column Allied tanks its Way  in saudi Arabia. . Marines supported saudi troops in the first sustained fighting ground units  persian Gulf War. Allied forces succeeded in pushing iraqi soldiers out Recap ire the former saudi arabian Seaside resort according saudi officials. Cans and saudis seized during the fierce Battle  the abandoned saudi Border town Khanji. In Washington the pen tags Ltd sex _. Pressed a scepticism at the claim that women prisoners were taken. Later army Brig. Gen. Pat Stevens in told reporters in Riyadh saudi Arabia that two american soldiers a Ian and a woman apparently wore missing. A. Quot the two had  been involved in the ground fighting but were conducting a a transportation Mission a Road that runs along an Oil pipeline about 25 75 Miles South the saudi kuwaiti Border see gis Back Page Aid is by Vince Crawley Middle East Bureau Eastern saudi Arabia a Central come officials said thursday that iraqi armoured stacks into saudi Arabia were a a reconnaissance in Force that accomplished nothing and  the Start a 7,000-tank Duel Between the allies and Saddam Hussein a forces. A a a. In an interview thursday can the commander Desen storm Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf said the iraqi attack Khanji was a about As significant As a Mosquito an  observers in saudi Arabia and Washington have said the iraqi attacks May be an attempt lure the allies into a premature land Battle. If Pentagon and Central come leaders said they Aren t taking the bait. Command officials said iraqi Quot armoured attacks wednesday near the saudi Border town Khanji and elsewhere along the kuwaiti Border done make much  a tactical Point View. Even though 11 Marirn were killed and two wounded while repelling an armoured attack about 50 Miles West Khanji tuesday night and wednesday morning officials said the fighting does  yet signal the beginning a major ground conflict. After the iraqi attacks television talks shows were filled with defense experts reiterating their View that a mechanized ground confrontation is the kind War Saddam wants fight. He has a Large Battle disciplined army that performed Well in Iran and Kuwait. And in reports out Baghdad he has accused the allies cowardice  using Aerial bombing attacks instead launching a frontal assault against the heavily defended Borders Kuwait and Southern Iraq. P a in his wednesday night briefing from Riyadh Schwarzkopf said the Allied air Campaign is entering its a third phase a soft eng iraqi front line defences in a preparation  a ground Battle. A few Days earlier defense Secretary Dick Cheney said that an Allied ground offensive might  be launched until late february. Also Allied spokesmen doggedly maintain in their press briefings that the air Ana ground campaigns Are Ibl Loving a More less fixed schedule and iraqis recent incursions Are  severe enough upset . Saddam Mother All wars would pit More than d see raid Back Page