The Day in the Gulf

* DAMAGE CHECK: Defense Secretary Dick Cheney gauged the damage to Iraqi ground forces by bombing raids. “I’m sure you could find some divisions that may be down by as much as 40%,” he said. Iraqi forces had been estimated at 1 million members with 540,000 in and around occupied Kuwait. “I don’t think it’s the world’s fourth-largest army anymore,” he said.

* U.S. JET LOST: A Marine Corp AV-8 Harrier was downed over southern Kuwait and the pilot was listed as missing, the U.S. Central Command said. It was the first U.S. jet lost in combat in more than a week. The Harrier, a vertical takeoff “jump jet,” is used for low-level bombing raids.

* 2,800 MORE SORTIES: With clearing weather, allied pilots flew 2,800 sorties, including 650 in Kuwait, for a war total of 59,000 missions. They bombed Republican Guard troops on Kuwait’s northern border with Iraq as well as bridges and supply routes.

* BAGHDAD’S COUNT: Baghdad claimed that allied planes had carried out 164 air raids since Saturday night, concentrating on “residential areas.” The Iraqi government said three allied planes were shot down, but gave no details.

* SADDAM SPEAKS: In his first broadcast speech in about two weeks, Saddam Hussein praised what he called Iraqi strength and steadfastness in the face of allied bombing. Hussein said the patience of the Iraqi people had inspired the soldiers on the front line in Kuwait.

* CLARIFICATION FROM JORDAN: King Hussein insisted that his speech last week that angered U.S. officials was misunderstood and did not indicate a shift toward Iraq. “I have opposed the occupation of Kuwait, and I have sought a peaceful solution of the problem from the outset,” the king said in an interview from Amman with ABC-TV’s David Brinkley.