The bombs on the two A-10 attack aircraft were all used up, and perhaps a few hundred rounds of cannon ammunition remained, but that was no problem. Having these two planes in the air for protection was enough.
There's an essential prerequisite for using the A-10: absolute air superiority is a must because the A-10 is purely an attack aircraft with no air combat capabilities. Any fighter jet could easily shoot down an A-10.
But over the territory of Iraq, no one's fighter jets could take off except those of the Americans.
Without the threat from the air, only ground threats remained. Then, the only threats to the A-10 could be anti-aircraft missiles, but Gao Guang didn't believe those who came to rob him would bring such weapons.
Without anti-aircraft missiles, it really only left anti-aircraft guns, but anti-aircraft guns meant the same thing - who would haul one along while stealing?