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Gulf War, also known as: Persian Gulf War, War in the Gulf, Iraq-Kuwait Conflict, Second Gulf War. A conflict between Iraq and Kuwait (and its supporters) fought in the Persian Gulf in 1990-1991. The USA was a key player in the conflict with its famous Operation Desert Storm. |
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The Gulf War, also known as: Persian Gulf War, War in the Gulf, Iraq-Kuwait Conflict, or Second Gulf War, was a conflict between Iraq and Kuwait (and its supporters) fought in the Persian Gulf in 1990-1991. The USA was a key party on Kuwait's side with its Operation Desert Storm. The Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 was also called the Gulf War, esp. before 1990. |
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The Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 was also called the Gulf War, esp. before 1990. |
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In 1990 Iraq's leader, [Saddam Hussein]?, formulated a plan to raise oil prices and lower oil production in order to reduce the debt Iraq had incurred in fighting a recent war with Iran. Iraq's oil producing Gulf neighbours refused to cooperate with the plan, they also refused to forgive loans they had made to Iraq during the [Iraq-Iran War]?; the situation grew increasingly tense and culminated in Iraqi troops invading neighbouring Kuwait on 1990-08-02. |
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The UN Security Council responded immediately by issuing resolution 660 condemning the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and demanding a withdrawal of Iraqi troops. On 1990-08-06 resolution 661 was adopted effectively placing economic sanctions on Iraq. Many more resolutions were passed with largely no effect. On 1990-11-29 resolution 678 was passed, giving Iraq a withdrawal deadline of 1991-01-15 and authorizing "all necessary means to uphold and implement resolution 660". |
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In order to protect Persian Gulf oil production, of huge economic importance to the USA, the USA reacted immediately; on the day of the invasion the USA mobilised two naval battle groups (the Eisenhower and the Independence) to the area ([USNAVY1]). These units were in the area and ready by 1990-08-08. Mindful of a threatened Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia the President of the USA, George Bush, announced that the USA would help Saudi Arabia defend its border (USPRES1) - Operation Desert Shield. Troops were already in the area. |
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In 1990 Iraq's leader, [Saddam Hussein]?, formulated a plan to raise oil prices and lower oil production in order to reduce the debt Iraq had incurred in fighting a recent war with Iran. Iraq's oil producing Gulf neighbours refused to cooperate with the plan, they also refused to forgive loans they had made to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War; the situation grew increasingly tense and culminated in Iraqi troops invading neighbouring Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The UN Security Council responded immediately by issuing resolution 660 condemning the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and demanding a withdrawal of Iraqi troops. On August 6, 1990 resolution 661 was adopted effectively placing economic sanctions on Iraq. Many more resolutions were passed with largely no effect. On November 11, 1990 resolution 678 was passed, giving Iraq a withdrawal deadline of January 15, 1991 and authorizing "all necessary means to uphold and implement resolution 660". In order to protect Persian Gulf oil production, of huge economic importance to the USA, the USA reacted immediately; on the day of the invasion the USA mobilised two naval battle groups (the Eisenhower and the Independence) to the area ([USNAVY1]). These units were in the area and ready by August 8, 1990. Mindful of a threatened Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia the President of the USA, George Bush, announced that the USA would help Saudi Arabia defend its border (USPRES1) - Operation Desert Shield. Troops were already in the area. The January 15 deadline passed with no withdrawal on Iraq's part. On January 16, 1991 the president of the USA made a statement that "Operation Desert Storm forces were engaging targets in Kuwait and Iraq" [USPRES2] - war had begun. |
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The January 15 deadline passed with no withdrawal on Iraq's part. On 1991-01-16 the president of the USA made a statement that "Operation Desert Storm forces were engaging targets in Kuwait and Iraq" [USPRES2] - war had begun. |
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A coalition of allied forces had been formed; supporters of the pre-invasion Kuwaiti government. The Allied coalition consisted of 34 countries, including Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, The Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. US troops represented 74% of 660,000 troops in the theater of war. |
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A coalition of allied forces had been formed; supporters of the pre-invasion Kuwaiti government. The Allied coalition consisted of 34 countries, including Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, The Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States]]. US troops represented 74% of 660,000 troops in the theater of war. |
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On the February 23 the President of the USA directed [General Norman Schwarzkopf]? to "use all forces available including ground forces to eject the Iraqi army from Kuwait" [USPRES3]. Operation Desert Sabre, a ground campaign, had begun. The liberation of Kuwait would soon follow. |
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On the February 23 the President of the USA directed [General Norman Schwarzkopf]? to "use all forces available including ground forces to eject the Iraqi army from Kuwait" [USPRES3]. Operation Desert Sabre, a ground campaign, had begun. The liberation of Kuwait would soon follow. |
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Iraqi casualty numbers are highly disputed. Some claim as low as 1500 military killed, some 200,000. Many scholars beleive a number around 25,000 to 75,000. The number of military wounded is equally unknown. 71,000 Iraqis were taken as prisoners of war by US troops. |
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Iraqi casualty numbers are highly disputed. Some claim as low as 1500 military killed, some 200,000. Many scholars believe a number around 25,000 to 75,000. The number of military wounded is equally unknown. 71,000 Iraqis were taken as prisoners of war by US troops. |
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The conclusion of the war saw Iraq expelled from Kuwait and coalition troops withdrawn from Iraq. Saddam Hussein remained in power; however UN weapons inspections, no-fly zones and embargoes where put in place. The weapons inspection were only partly successful as Iraq often interferred with the inspectors. No fly zones where put in place to help protect Shiite and Khurdish rebels in Iraq and have resulted in the last ten years in more sorties over Iraq than were flown during the war. While most of these flights have been peaceful, numerous antiaircraft weapons have been fired at Allied aircraft and numerous retaliatory strikes have been made. |
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Embargo on Iraq have become controversial because of the increased disease and poor economy in Iraq. Iraq blames numerous deaths on the embargo despite its softening with the Food-for-Oil program. |
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The conclusion of the war saw Iraq expelled from Kuwait and coalition troops withdrawn from Iraq. Saddam Hussein remained in power; however UN weapons inspections, no-fly zones and embargoes were put in place. The weapons inspection were only partly successful, as Iraq often interferred with the inspectors. No-fly zones where put in place to help protect Shiite and Khurdish rebels in Iraq and have resulted in the last ten years in more sorties over Iraq than were flown during the war. While most of these flights have been peaceful, numerous antiaircraft weapons have been fired at Allied aircraft and numerous retaliatory strikes have been made. Embargos on Iraq have become controversial because of the increased disease and poor economy in Iraq. Iraq blames numerous deaths on the embargo despite its softening with the Food-for-Oil program. |
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