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News for this day, at least in America, was entirely devoted to reports on the Gulf War and the progress being made as allied forces entered Kuwait.
The official Kuwait News Agency claimed this day that the Iraqi occupation forces had evacuated Kuwait city and neighboring regions Quoting an unidentified “high-ranking Kuwaiti military official” the agency said that Kuwaiti citizens were in control of key police precincts “The resistance is now in control of the city of Kuwait and neighboring regions” the official said. Allied forces were moving toward the city to affirm control over it the agency said a few hours after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced that Kuwait was no longer part of Iraq and that his troops were withdrawing. Saddam’s announcement of a pullout from the emirate his forces seized on Aug 2 came as an allied assault surged north and tightened the noose around Kuwait’s capital. An earlier broadcast by Kuwait’s exiled government advised Kuwait City residents to stay in their homes as allied troops roll in but there already was one account of “dancing in the streets”. “Our joy is overflowing thanks be to God The enemy is turning tail” said the Kuwait radio broadcast. The Kuwaiti radio station which is believed to broadcast from Saudi Arabia told listeners in the Kuwaiti capital that allied paratroopers and helicopters would be arriving in “in hours or minutes”. The radio said its information about imminent allied entry into the city came directly from allied commanders. It appealed to residents to stay calm be alert for saboteurs and avoid celebrations especially firing guns into the air. The radio warned that Kuwaitis could be shot by liberation forces if found carrying arms. It also advised against ill treatment of fleeing Iraqi soldiers “The allied command advised us they are on the outskirts and entering the city but cannot distinguish between our youth and the Iraqi soldiers” the radio said “If you encounter any Iraqi surrendering just take him to the nearest police station” the radio said. The broadcast promised that the wealthy Kuwaiti government “will provide all needs including power food services”.
Leilani Young, a Las Vegas Nevada resident married to a Kuwaiti said she received a call from some of his relatives in Sweden who had been in radio contact with Kuwait City. “The Iraqi troops are throwing down their weapons and leaving in anything they can get their hands on to drive” she said. “The Kuwaitis are coming out of hiding and they’re dancing in the streets just that they’re leaving their houses is a miracle. They’ve been in hiding”.
And that’s what was going on, this February 26, 1991 as reported by CBS Radio News on the Hour and Special Reports.
