Highway 80, the "Highway of Death" during the Persian Gulf War
A paved highway running from Kuwait to Basra in Iraq was dubbed the "Highway of Death" during the Persian Gulf War after U.S. aircraft bombed a retreating column of Iraqi tanks and trucks, destroying 2,700 vehicles in all.
Where does the Highway of Death start and end?
The official name of the road is Highway 80. It’s a six-lane road running from Kuwait City to the Iraqi city of Basra via the border town of Safwan. It was used by Iraqi forces during the invasion of Kuwait and was repaired after the Persian Gulf War.
Why is the Highway of Death famous?
The attack occurred on February 26-February 27, 1991, just days before the war ended. Retreating units of the Iraqi army were attacked and destroyed by American aircraft and ground forces during the United Nations Coalition offensive in the Gulf War. During that time, coalition aircraft bombed a retreating column of Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles as well as civilian cars, trucks, and buses that had been commandeered by military forces. This bombing was done with cluster bombs and incendiary rounds from A-10s. On the main highway, aircraft bombed the front and rear of the massive vehicle column of the Iraqi Regular Army, trapping the convoy and leaving sitting targets for later airstrikes.
What is the Mile of Death?
Most of the vehicles were abandoned by the time they were struck. While high casualty counts are upwards of 10,000 for the entire battle, low-end estimates are only around 200-300. The final tally is probably in the low 1000s. In total, between 1800-2700 vehicles were destroyed. The scenes of destruction on the road are some of the most identifiable images of the war. The devastating attack resulted in the destruction and abandonment of more than a thousand vehicles. When visited by journalists, the main highway had been reduced to a long uninterrupted line of destroyed, damaged, and abandoned vehicles, sometimes called the Mile of Death. The wreckage predominantly consisted of stolen civilian vehicles (such as cars, trucks, and buses) which were manned by Iraqi conscripts and the Palestinian fighters, accompanied by their family members fleeing the advancing Coalition forces.
Pic: https://www.funnyjunk.com/War+first+gulf+war/funny-pictures/5688069#2fb95b_5687625