Persian Gulf War

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Persian Gulf War, also called Gulf War, (1990-91), international conflict that was triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, ordered the invasion and occupation of Kuwait with the apparent aim of acquiring those nations large oil reserves, cancelling a large debt Iraq owed Kuwait, and expanding Iraqi power in the region. It was the first major international crises of the post cold war era, and the US led response would set important precedents for the use of military force over subsequent decades.



Causes of the war:-

The seeds for the Gulf War were laid decades before the first military action occurred. Iraq had long been a volatile country in the Middle East, causing trouble with other nations around it. In the 1960s, a coup d’état, or seizure of power, occurred in Iraq, and the Ba'athist political party took power. By the late 1970s, a leading Ba'athist politician, General Saddam Hussein, became the official president of Iraq, ultimately taking the country down a fateful path. Hussein built up the Iraqi military and began a war with Iran in 1980. The Iran-Iraq war lasted for eight years and cost hundreds of thousands of lives on each side, including both soldiers and civilians. Two years after the war with Iran ended, Hussein was looking elsewhere for new territorial gains.

Hussein settled on Kuwait, a small nation just southeast of Iraq. Kuwait had large oil reserves and was located along the Persian Gulf. On August 2, 1990, Iraq began their invasion of Kuwait, bombing Kuwaiti City and soon sending ground forces into the country. Iraq's military forces were the fourth largest army in the world at that time, numbering over one and a half million men. Kuwait had an army of roughly 16,000 men. Thus, Kuwait was unable to stop the Iraqi onslaught into its territory.

The International response and operation Desert shield:-

Immediately following the invasion, the United Nations issued Resolution 660 which condemned Iraq's actions.  Subsequent resolutions placed sanctions on Iraq and later required Iraqi forces to withdraw by January 15, 1991 or face military action.  In the days after the Iraqi attack, US President George H.W. Bush (left) directed those American forces be sent to Saudi Arabia to aid in the defence of that ally and prevent further aggression.  Dubbed Operation Desert Shield, this mission saw the rapid build-up of US forces in the Saudi desert and Persian Gulf.  Conducting extensive diplomacy, the Bush Administration assembled a large coalition that ultimately saw thirty-four nations commit troops and resources to the region.



The Air Campaign:-

Following Iraq's refusal to withdraw from Kuwait, coalition aircraft began striking targets in Iraq and Kuwait on January 17, 1991.  Dubbed Operation Desert Storm, the coalition offensive saw aircraft fly from bases in Saudi Arabia and carriers in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.  Initial attacks targeted the Iraqi air force and anti-aircraft infrastructure before moving on to disabling the Iraqi command and control network.  Quickly gaining air superiority, coalition air forces began a systematic attack on enemy military targets.  Responding to the opening of hostilities, Iraq began firing Scud missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia.  In addition, Iraqi forces attacked the Saudi city of Khafaji on January 29, but were driven back.



The Liberation of Kuwait:-

After several weeks of intense air attacks, coalition commander General Norman Schwarzkopf commenced a massive ground campaign on February 24.  While US Marine divisions and Arab forces advanced into Kuwait from the south, fixing the Iraqis in place, VII Corps attacked north into Iraq to the west.  Protected on their left by XVIII Airborne Corps, VII Corps drove north before swinging east to cut off the Iraqi retreat from Kuwait.  This "left hook" caught the Iraqis by surprise and resulted in the surrender of large numbers of enemy troops.  In approximately 100 hours of fighting, coalition forces shattered the Iraqi army before Pres. Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28.




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