Gulf War

The Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and 39 other countries, led by the United States. It started with the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on August 2, 1990. Iraq had claimed Kuwait as part of its territory. The war ended the following spring when Iraq's armies were defeated. Iraq is said to have suffered around 80,000-100,000 soldier losses.

Gulf War
Date August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991 Location Persian Gulf Result Coalition victory Iraq expelled from Kuwait Kuwaiti monarchy restored Destruction of Iraqi and Kuwaiti infrastructure Failed Shia/Kurdish uprisings against the Iraqi government Iraqi Kurdistan obtains autonomy, establishment of the northern Iraq no fly zone by the US Saddam Hussein retains power UN sanctions against Iraq maintained until 2003 United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 establishes cease-fire terms, beginning of the Iraq disarmament controversies
Belligerents
United States Saudi Arabia United Kingdom Egypt France Syria Morocco Kuwait Oman Pakistan Canada United Arab Emirates Qatar Bangladesh Italy Australia Netherlands Niger Sweden Argentina Senegal Spain Bahrain Belgium Poland South Korea Norway Czechoslovakia Greece Denmark New Zealand Hungary	Ba'athist Iraq
Commanders and leaders
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.	Saddam Hussein
Strength
956,600, including 700,000 US troops	650,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses
Military dead: 1,000–2,000 Civilian dead: 500–1,000	Military dead: 80,000–100,000 Civilian dead: 5,000–7,000

There were two military operations.

Operation Desert Shield brought troops to protect Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states that Iraq had not attacked.

Operation Desert Storm attacked Iraq's forces both in Kuwait and in Iraq. It started on 17 January, 1991 with an air strike. Ground operations started 24 February. Iraqi forces set fire to oil wells to slow the attack.The war ended on 28 February, 1991 with a ceasefire.

The long Iran–Iraq War had ended in August 1988. Iraq owed a great amount of money to Saudi Arabia and had difficulty paying it back. Saddam Hussein declared the neighboring country of Kuwait to be siphoning Iraqi crude oil from across the border, and on August 2nd, 1990 the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait started. On January 17, 1991 the US began the Persian Gulf War with a massive US led air offensive known as Operation Desert Storm.

The attacks were assisted by newly developed weapons, including stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and smart bombs.

After 42 days of fighting U.S. President Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28. By that time most Iraqi forces in Kuwait had either surrendered or fled.

Operation Desert storm included a bombing campaign that targeted Iraqi aircraft, anti-aircraft systems, oil refineries, weapon factories, bridges, and roads. The war was a lopsided victory for coalition forces. President George Bush decided not to depose Saddam Houssein.

Political issues after Operation Desert Storm lead to the second Persian Gulf War in 2003.

Medal for United States personnel.

Related pages

• Iran-Iraq War
• 2003 invasion of Iraq