The Gulf War: The Battle Front : The Day in the Gulf

AIR COMBAT: In what was described as “an intense dogfight over the coast,” a Saudi pilot shot down two Iraqi warplanes carrying lethal Exocet anti-ship missiles.

ISLAND FALLS: In response to enemy ground fire, allied forces attacked Iraqi troops on the small island of Qaruh off the Kuwaiti coast. Three Iraqis were killed and 29 surrendered.

MISSING: Four CBS newsmen have been missing since Monday in the territory between allied and Iraqi forces. A Saudi patrol found their empty all-terrain vehicle abandoned along a road in a remote area of northern Saudi Arabia near the Iraq and Kuwait borders.

PILOT RESCUED: An American pilot was saved in a dramatic rescue after his jet was disabled by ground fire over Kuwait and he ejected over the Persian Gulf. He was picked up by helicopter and taken aboard the Nicholas, where he was reported in good condition.

FALSE ALARM: Air raid sirens sounded in Israel Thursday night, but the warning was canceled three minutes later, indicating a false alarm. There was no immediate explanation from the army command. The sirens went off at 10:32 p.m. (12:32 p.m. PST).

SORTIE TALLY: The number of allied sorties passed 15,000 on Thursday. Allied sources in Dhahran said the U.S.-led coalition wants to pick up the pace, perhaps flying 3,000 missions a day if the skies remain clear. The coalition bombers were targeting Iraq’s elite Republican Guards in Kuwait.

KING HUSSEIN THREATENED: In Amman, Jordan, a fundamentalist Muslim leader was arrested after suggesting that King Hussein should be overthrown if he does not join the war on Iraq’s side.