Jackson Reid
The Gulf War, also known as the Persian Gulf War, was an international conflict between Iraq and a US-led coalition of 42 countries that took place between 1990 and 1991. The conflict was triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, which was met with immediate international condemnation and the imposition of comprehensive international sanctions against Iraq. The US-led coalition launched Operation Desert Storm, a massive air campaign that began on 17 January 1991, followed by a ground offensive, Operation Desert Sabre, on 24 February 1991. The coalition's superior airpower and special capabilities, such as aerial refueling and precision munitions, played a significant role in their decisive victory over Iraqi forces. The conflict resulted in thousands of civilian and military casualties on both sides, with an estimated 2,278 Iraqi civilians killed and 5,965 wounded.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 January 1991 - 28 February 1991 |
| Coalition | 42 countries led by the United States |
| Coalition Members | Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Canada, Syria, Bangladesh, Morocco, Argentina, France, Italy, and more |
| Coalition Aircraft | 2,430 fixed-wing aircraft |
| Coalition Satellites | 16 military communications satellites |
| Iraqi Casualties | 2,278 killed, 5,965 wounded |
| Coalition Casualties | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
The US-led coalition's military might
The US-led coalition's military campaign against Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War was carried out in two key phases: Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The coalition comprised 42 countries, with the bulk of its military power contributed by the United States, followed by Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Egypt.
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Shield marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991. During this phase, the US military carried out its largest overseas deployment since World War II, with over 240,000 troops in the Gulf and another 200,000 en route by mid-November 1990. The United Kingdom contributed over 25,000 troops, Egypt sent around 40,000, and France contributed around 20,000.
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Desert Storm began on January 17, 1991, with a massive US-led aerial bombing campaign against Iraq. For 42 consecutive days and nights, coalition forces subjected Iraq to one of the most intensive air bombardments in military history, flying over 100,000 sorties and dropping 88,500 tons of bombs. The coalition's air superiority played a crucial role in establishing air supremacy and destroying strategic targets, including Iraqi air defenses, command and control facilities, communications networks, government buildings, weapons plants, oil refineries, and infrastructure such as bridges and roads. The coalition's aerial dominance was evident in the low number of aircraft losses, with only 75 aircraft lost out of over 100,000 sorties.
The coalition's air fleet included USAF A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, armed with GAU-8 rotary cannons and AGM-65 Maverick missiles, which bombed and destroyed Iraqi armored forces. US Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers employed their 25mm rotary cannons, Mavericks, cluster munitions, and napalm against Iraqi dug-in forces. The coalition also utilized attack helicopters like the AH-64 Apache and AH-1 Cobra, which fired laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire and TOW missiles. In addition, the E-3A Airborne Warning and Control Systems and B-52 Stratofortress bombers were part of the coalition's arsenal.
The coalition's central command was led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom, while the marine command was solely led by the United States. The ground offensive phase of Operation Desert Storm, known as Operation Desert Sabre, began on February 24, 1991, and resulted in a decisive victory for the coalition. The coalition's superior firepower and rapid advance led to the liberation of Kuwait and a swift advance into Iraqi territory.
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Iraqi counterattacks
The Gulf War, also known as the Persian Gulf War, was an international conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States. The conflict was triggered by Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, with the aim of acquiring Kuwait's large oil reserves, cancelling a large debt owed to Kuwait, and expanding Iraqi regional power. The Iraqi invasion was met with immediate international condemnation, including UN sanctions and the deployment of coalition troops to Saudi Arabia.
The coalition's military response was carried out in two key phases: Operation Desert Shield, involving the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991, and Operation Desert Storm, which began with an aerial bombing campaign against Iraq on January 17, 1991, and lasted until February 24, 1991. This was followed by Operation Desert Sabre (also known as Operation Desert Sword), a massive ground offensive launched into Iraqi-occupied Kuwait on February 24, 1991.
During the initial phases of the conflict, Iraqi forces employed missile barrages against coalition targets in Saudi Arabia, but these were largely unsuccessful. On the other hand, the coalition's air campaign, utilizing advanced technologies such as laser-guided missiles and precision munitions, effectively destroyed Iraq's air defenses, communications networks, government buildings, weapons plants, oil refineries, and transportation infrastructure.
Despite the overwhelming aerial bombardment, Iraqi forces launched a series of counterattacks during the ground offensive. On February 24, 1991, as the coalition forces initiated their major ground assault, they were met with Iraqi armoured counterattacks along the Kuwaiti frontier. However, the 1st and 2nd Marine divisions successfully rebuffed these counterattacks, capturing the airport in Kuwait City.
The following days, February 26 and 27, witnessed intense engagements between the coalition forces and Iraqi armoured reserves, including Saddam's elite Republican Guard divisions near Basra. The coalition forces, including the VII Corps, the 1st British Armoured Division, and the 24th U.S. Infantry Division, prevailed in these battles, inflicting heavy casualties on the Iraqi forces. The destruction of the Iraqi armoured reserves and the collapse of the remaining Iraqi forces in Kuwait forced Saddam to accept a ceasefire on February 28, 1991, bringing an end to the ground campaign and the conflict as a whole.
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The role of satellite technology
The Persian Gulf War, also known as the Gulf War, was an international conflict that took place between 1990 and 1991. It was triggered by Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait, which aimed to acquire Kuwait's large oil reserves, cancel its large debt to Kuwait, and expand Iraqi power in the region. The U.S.-led coalition's military offensive, named Operation Desert Storm, began on January 16-17, 1991, with a massive aerial bombardment campaign that destroyed Iraq's air defenses, communications networks, government buildings, weapons plants, oil refineries, and infrastructure.
Satellite technology played a significant role in the coalition's success during the Persian Gulf War of 1991, marking the world's first "space war." The coalition forces leveraged satellite-based global positioning systems (GPS) to navigate, communicate, and guide their weapons across the vast and inhospitable desert battlefields of Kuwait and Iraq. The introduction of early GPS systems provided precise coordinate locations, enabling troops to plot artillery fire, compute bearings, measure aircraft descent angles, and more. This technology proved invaluable in navigating the featureless desert landscape, catching the enemy by surprise and leading to a rapid dismantling of Saddam Hussein's military.
The coalition forces also utilized satellite-based intelligence-gathering capabilities, enhancing their decision-making and tactical advantage. Satellites provided real-time intelligence to headquarters at all levels, allowing for the rapid collection, processing, and transmission of critical information. This helped overcome the long-standing challenge of imprecise information in military operations, often referred to as the "fog of war." The coalition's superior technology, including satellite-based systems, played a pivotal role in their victory over Iraqi forces.
In addition to GPS and intelligence-gathering capabilities, satellite technology contributed to the coalition's dominance in other ways. The coalition had access to sixteen military communications satellites, fourteen of which belonged to the United States. These satellites facilitated critical communication within the theater of operations, providing a total transmission rate equivalent to approximately 39,000 simultaneous telephone calls. This enabled effective coordination and command among coalition forces.
The integration of satellite technology in the Persian Gulf War of 1991 revolutionized warfare, showcasing its indispensable role in modern military operations. The success of the coalition forces in leveraging satellite-based systems for navigation, intelligence, and communication set a precedent for the continued reliance on space-based assets in future conflicts. The war demonstrated the potential of satellite technology to provide unprecedented situational awareness, enhance decision-making, and contribute to a decisive victory.
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The destruction of Iraqi defenses
The Gulf War, also known as the Persian Gulf War, was an international conflict that began with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The invasion was ordered by Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, to acquire Kuwait's large oil reserves, cancel Iraq's large debt to Kuwait, and expand Iraqi power in the region. In response to the invasion, a United Nations Security Council embargo and sanctions were imposed on Iraq, leading to a U.S.-led coalition air and ground war that began on January 16, 1991, known as Operation Desert Storm.
The first phase of Operation Desert Storm was a coalition air operation that lasted from January 17 to February 24, 1991. During this phase, coalition forces subjected Iraq to one of the most intensive air bombardments in military history, with over 100,000 sorties flown and 88,500 tonnes of bombs dropped, widely destroying military and civilian infrastructure. The Iraqi air defense system, including aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, antiaircraft guns, and radars, was rendered ineffective, with Iraqi losses of around 35 aircraft in air-to-air combat and at least 100 destroyed on the ground.
The second phase of Operation Desert Storm was a ground offensive, dubbed Operation Desert Sabre, which began on February 24, 1991. This phase involved a massive allied ground offensive that was launched northward from northeastern Saudi Arabia into Kuwait and southern Iraq. Within three days, Arab and U.S. forces had retaken Kuwait City, with Iraqi resistance crumbling.
Overall, the coalition's military offensive effectively destroyed Iraqi defenses, leading to an Iraqi defeat and retreat from Kuwait by February 28, 1991. The Gulf War resulted in significant civilian casualties, with Iraqi claims of 2,300 civilian deaths during the air campaign and predictions of tens of thousands of additional civilian deaths due to the destruction of the country's electrical generating capacity and the resulting impact on essential services such as hospitals and water purification.
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The war's aftermath
The 1991 Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a US-led coalition of 42 countries, including several Arab nations. The war ended with an Iraqi defeat and retreat from Kuwait on February 28, 1991, just over six months after Iraq's initial invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990.
In the aftermath of the war, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 686 on March 2, 1991, outlining the terms of a ceasefire. Iraq was obligated to accept the provisions, which included sanctions and the payment of reparations for war damages. They were also required to return property stolen from Kuwait. The United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) was established to inspect Iraq's suspected chemical and biological weapons capabilities.
The war had a significant impact on Iraq's infrastructure and economy. Iraqi forces had set fire to Kuwaiti oil fields, releasing millions of gallons of crude oil into the Persian Gulf. The final Kuwaiti oil fire was extinguished on November 7, 1990. In addition to the environmental damage, Iraq also faced economic sanctions imposed by the international community. These sanctions, which had been in place since the invasion of Kuwait, were only partially lifted by the UN in August 1990, allowing Iraq to produce oil but limiting its revenue.
The war also had a significant human toll. On February 13, 1991, a United States Air Force (USAF) warplane fired two laser-guided missiles at an air raid shelter in Baghdad, killing at least 408 civilians. The estimated number of Iraqi civilians killed during the war was 2,278, with 5,965 wounded. In addition, hundreds of thousands of guest workers from countries like Pakistan, Egypt, Palestine, and the Philippines fled Kuwait during the conflict, seeking refuge in Jordan.
The Gulf War also had broader geopolitical consequences. It marked a deterioration of relations between the United States and Iraq, with Iraq accusing the US and Israel of deliberately weakening the country. The conflict also highlighted the importance of the Gulf region's oil reserves and the vulnerability of oil-producing countries like Kuwait. The war's aftermath saw a continued US military presence in the region, with troops and equipment deployed to Saudi Arabia and other countries contributing to the coalition.
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Frequently asked questions
The Gulf War was an international conflict between Iraq and a US-led coalition of 42 countries.
The conflict was triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990. Iraq, governed by Saddam Hussein, wanted Kuwait's large oil reserves and to cancel a large debt it owed to the country.
The coalition's efforts were carried out in two phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991; and Operation Desert Storm, which began with aerial bombing campaigns on 17 January 1991 and ended with the liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991.
The US-led coalition successfully liberated Kuwait and restored Kuwaiti sovereignty. The conflict resulted in the deaths of 2,278 Iraqi civilians and wounding of 5,965 others.
According to National Security Directive 54, dated 15 January 1991, the US had four major war aims: complete Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, restore Kuwait's government, protect American lives, and promote the security and stability of the Persian Gulf. The US accomplished the first three objectives but not the last.
