Didn’t Leave Empty-Handed
There's a famous scene at the end of the Persian Gulf War in 1991, called Highway of Death.
American-led coalition forces had in a little over a hundred hours of shock and awe demolished the Iraqi Army occupying Kuwait, who retreated back over the border with their armored divisions, weaponry and everything they could possibly loot.
On the night of February 26–27, Coalition air forces attacked a massive column leaving Kuwait City, incinerating hundreds of vehicles and roasting many of their occupants into unrecognizable charcoal effigies. Those who managed to escape were strafed by pursuing helicopters as they fled through the desert.
The sun rose the next morning upon miles of devastation that produced some of the most shocking images of war, and prompted the order from President George H. W. Bush to cease hostilities.
Many argue the Highway of Death attack was a disproportionate use of force against an army out of combat and in compliance with UN resolutions to withdraw, and thus a war crimes violation of the Geneva Convention.
Retreat Space: No Booty Allowed
Nobody was ever held to account because, as they say, all is fair in love and war. And my purpose here in dusting off an old atrocity is not to gin up outrage, but provide a real-life illustration of the demarcation between Defeat and Retreat.