The Day in the Gulf

* ALLIED DRIVE LOOMS: American forces are poised to launch a coordinated ground, air and sea assault this week, barring an Iraqi surrender or diplomatic deal, Pentagon officials said. The final decision will be up to President Bush, but a senior Army official said, “The table has been set.”

* U.S. AIR LOSSES: Three more U.S. planes were lost. Two A-10 Warthog jets were shot down while attacking Republican Guard positions in northwestern Kuwait. Both pilots were missing. An F-16 fighter crashed while trying to land after returning from a mission, killing the pilot. An Iraqi helicopter was shot down.

* SCUDS LAUNCHED: Two Iraqi Scud missiles hit Israel, but officials reported no damage or injuries. One reportedly landed in the Negev Desert in the south. One Scud was fired at the Saudi port of Jubayl but broke up in flight.

* IRAQI CASUALTIES: Iraqi officials said 130 civilians died Thursday in an allied air raid in the town of Fallouja, on the Euphrates River about 40 miles west of Baghdad. They said British bombers hit an apartment building and an outdoor market. The British said they attacked bridges in the Fallouja area but had no information on civilian casualties.

* BAGHDAD ATTACKED: Allied missiles and bombs shook the Iraqi capital amid barrages of antiaircraft fire as the allies flew 2,600 sorties, bringing the total for the war to 76,000. Allied aircraft losses total 36.

* SOVIET DIPLOMACY: Moscow maintained its alignment with the U.S.-led coalition, saying Iraq must leave Kuwait without preconditions. The statement came as the Soviets prepared to host Iraqi Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz for talks in what may be the last effort to end the Gulf War before the allies launch a ground campaign.