Miles Bennett
The Gulf War, also known as the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, or Iraq War, was an armed conflict that took place between 1990 and 1991. It was fought between Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, and a coalition of 42 countries led by the United States. The conflict began when Iraq invaded and occupied its small, oil-rich neighbour, Kuwait, in response to disputes over oil fields and debts owed by Iraq to Kuwait. The international community responded swiftly, with the United Nations demanding Iraqi withdrawal and imposing sanctions. The US-led coalition carried out two key operations: Operation Desert Shield, involving a military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991, and Operation Desert Storm, an aerial bombing campaign against Iraq that began on January 17, 1991, and culminated in the liberation of Kuwait on February 28, 1991.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1990-1991 |
| Combatants | Iraq vs. a 42-country coalition led by the US |
| Cause | Iraq invaded Kuwait to acquire its oil reserves, cancel its debt to Kuwait, and expand its power in the region |
| US Aims | Complete Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, restore Kuwait's government, protect American lives, and promote security and stability in the Persian Gulf |
| Outcome | US-led coalition victory, Iraqi defeat and retreat from Kuwait |
| Casualties | Coalition forces: 392 dead; Iraqi battle deaths: 20,000-35,000; Civilian deaths: over 3,000 |
| Notable Events | Introduction of live news broadcasts from the front lines, large tank battles (Battle of Medina Ridge, Battle of Norfolk, Battle of 73 Easting) |
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What You'll Learn
The Gulf War took place from 1990-1991
The Gulf War, also known as the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, or Iraq War, took place from 1990 to 1991. It was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States. The war began on August 2, 1990, when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered his armed forces to invade Kuwait, a small, oil-rich country in the Persian Gulf. Within a matter of days, Iraqi troops had fully occupied Kuwait.
The invasion of Kuwait was primarily driven by disputes over oil fields and Iraq's debt to Kuwait. Saddam Hussein accused Kuwait of stealing oil from the Rumaila oil field that straddled their border and demanded control of the Bubiyan and Warbah Islands, which offered secure access to Iraq's ports. Additionally, Iraq sought to cancel its large debt to Kuwait from the recently concluded Iran-Iraq War.
In response to the invasion, the international community acted swiftly. The United Nations imposed sanctions and demanded Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait, setting a deadline of January 15, 1991. When Iraq ignored this deadline, a US-led coalition force initiated military action. The coalition included nearly one million service personnel from 32 countries, including 53,457 from the United Kingdom.
The coalition's military offensive began on January 16-17, 1991, with Operation Desert Storm, a massive aerial bombardment that destroyed Iraq's air defenses and targeted its infrastructure. This was followed by Operation Desert Sabre, a ground offensive launched on February 24, 1991, which successfully liberated Kuwait within three days. The war concluded on February 28, 1991, with an Iraqi defeat and retreat from Kuwait.
The Gulf War had significant consequences. While it demonstrated the United States' military capabilities and their ability to rally international support, it also led to sanctions and economic crippling of Iraq, leaving the country internationally isolated.
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Iraq invaded Kuwait on 2nd August 1990
On 2 August 1990, at around 2 a.m. local time, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, its small but oil-rich neighbour. The invasion was ordered by Saddam Hussein, Iraq's leader, with the aim of acquiring Kuwait's vast oil reserves, cancelling a large debt owed to Kuwait, and expanding Iraq's power in the region.
Kuwait's defence forces were swiftly overwhelmed, and those that remained unharmed retreated to Saudi Arabia. The Emir of Kuwait, Jaber Al-Sabah, along with his family and other government leaders, also fled to Saudi Arabia. Within a few hours, Kuwait City had been captured, and the Iraqis had established a provincial government, annexing Kuwait and gaining control of 20% of the world's oil reserves.
The invasion was condemned internationally, and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously denounced it, demanding Iraq's immediate withdrawal from Kuwait. The UNSC also imposed a worldwide ban on trade with Iraq and passed several resolutions urging Iraq to withdraw from Kuwaiti territory. However, the Iraqi military continued to occupy Kuwait and defied all orders by the UNSC.
The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, codenamed "Project 17", marked the beginning of the Gulf War. The conflict was an international armed struggle between Iraq and a coalition led by the United States. The coalition's efforts were carried out in two main phases: Operation Desert Shield, involving the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991, and Operation Desert Storm, which commenced with an aerial bombing campaign against Iraq on 17 January 1991. The American-led liberation of Kuwait was achieved on 28 February 1991, concluding the Gulf War.
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The US-led coalition began air campaigns in January 1991
The Gulf War, also known as the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, or Iraq War, was an armed conflict between Iraq and a US-led coalition of 42 countries. The war was a response to Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait, which began on 2 August 1990. The coalition forces carried out their military offensive in two key phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991, and Operation Desert Storm, which commenced with the aerial bombing campaign on 17 January 1991.
Operation Desert Storm, also known as the "mother of all battles" by Iraqi officials, was an extensive air campaign that destroyed Iraq's air defences, communication networks, government buildings, weapons plants, oil refineries, and bridges and roads. The US-led coalition began their air campaigns with coalition aircraft flying over 100,000 sorties. The aerial bombardment continued throughout the war, even as land operations commenced.
The coalition's air campaign was a massive and complex operation, utilising the latest warfighting technology. It successfully dismantled Iraq's air defences, allowing coalition forces to gain air superiority. This enabled the coalition to provide close air support for ground forces and conduct precision strikes against Iraqi targets. The air campaign played a crucial role in the eventual liberation of Kuwait and the defeat of Iraqi forces.
The air campaign also had significant impacts on Iraqi civilians and infrastructure. While the coalition aimed to minimise civilian casualties, thousands of civilians were killed in coalition airstrikes. Additionally, Iraq's infrastructure, including power plants, water treatment facilities, and transportation networks, was severely damaged or destroyed. The coalition's air power played a critical role in achieving the coalition's war aims, which included the complete withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait, the restoration of Kuwait's government, and the protection of American lives.
The US-led air campaign in the Gulf War demonstrated the effectiveness of air power in modern warfare. It showcased the ability to project power over long distances and conduct precision strikes with minimal collateral damage. The success of the air campaign had important implications for future military conflicts and shaped the way air power was utilised in subsequent wars.
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Operation Desert Storm was a large-scale air campaign
The Gulf War took place between 1990 and 1991. It was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States. 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, a large-scale air campaign.
Operation Desert Storm was a massive air campaign that began on 17 January 1991 with more than 1,000 sorties launching per day. The coalition's primary concern was to tackle Iraqi air defences and gain control of Iraqi airspace. The campaign involved nearly every type of fixed-wing aircraft in the US inventory, with the United States Air Force deploying over 1,300 aircraft. The opening attack of the operation was enormous, with more than 2,500 sorties flown on the first day alone. The coalition relied on the F-1-17A Nighthawk, which gained the nickname "The Ghost" due to its invisibility to enemy radar.
The coalition's aircraft targeted Iraqi radar sites, communications networks, government buildings, weapons plants, oil refineries, and bridges. The intensity of the air campaign was substantial, with the US bomb tonnage dropped per day equivalent to 85% of the average daily bomb tonnage dropped on Germany and Japan during World War II. The operation provided a valuable opportunity to assess the performance of US combat aircraft and munitions systems in actual combat conditions.
During the campaign, the coalition lost 75 aircraft, including 52 fixed-wing aircraft and 23 helicopters. In contrast, an estimated 407 Iraqi aircraft were either destroyed or flown to Iran and impounded. The Iraqi Air Force and air defences were capable of tackling regional threats, but their opponents had superior weapons technology and operational capabilities.
Operation Desert Storm was one of the largest and most impressive air campaigns in history, showcasing the sophistication and complexity of modern warfare. It played a crucial role in the coalition's efforts to liberate Kuwait and marked a significant chapter in the history of military aviation.
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The conflict was also known as the Persian Gulf War
The conflict now commonly known as the Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a coalition of 42 countries led by the United States. It lasted from August 1990 to February 1991. It is also known as the Persian Gulf War, the First Gulf War, the Kuwait War, or the Iraq War (before the term became identified with the 2003 Iraq War).
The Gulf War was the first major international crisis of the post-Cold War era. It began when Iraq, governed by Saddam Hussein, invaded its small, oil-rich neighbour, Kuwait, and fully occupied the country within two days. The invasion was primarily over disputes regarding Kuwait's alleged slant drilling in Iraq's Rumaila oil field, as well as to cancel Iraq's large debt to Kuwait from the recently ended Iran-Iraq War.
During the occupation of Kuwait, Iraqi troops began a systematic campaign of pillage, rape, torture, murder, and theft of Kuwait’s economic assets. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait led to a United Nations Security Council embargo and sanctions on Iraq and a U.S.-led coalition air and ground war. The coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991; and Operation Desert Storm, which began with the aerial bombing campaign against Iraq on 17 January 1991 and came to a close with the American-led liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991.
The Gulf War has also gained fame for some of the largest tank battles in American military history: the Battle of Medina Ridge, the Battle of Norfolk, and the Battle of 73 Easting.
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Frequently asked questions
The Gulf War took place from 1990 to 1991.
The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a US-led coalition of 42 countries.
The Gulf War started when Iraq, governed by Saddam Hussein, invaded neighbouring Kuwait. The invasion was primarily over disputes regarding Kuwait's alleged slant drilling in Iraq's Rumaila oil field, as well as to cancel Iraq's large debt to Kuwait from the recently ended Iran-Iraq War.
The US-led coalition's response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait was to carry out Operation Desert Shield from August 1990 to January 1991, which marked the military buildup. This was followed by Operation Desert Storm, which began on 16 or 17 January 1991 with a massive US-led aerial bombing campaign against Iraq and ended with the liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991.
The Gulf War resulted in the defeat and retreat of Iraqi forces from Kuwait, with Iraqi battle deaths estimated between 20,000 and 35,000, and over 3,000 civilian deaths. The war also left Iraq economically crippled and internationally isolated due to subsequent sanctions.
