United Nations imposes sweeping trade sanctions on Iraq. U.S.-led coalition launches air war against Iraq.
Allied troops take control of Kuwait.
U.N. Security Council lays down conditions, including elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, that must be met before sanctions are lifted. Allied warplanes and warships attack missile sites and a nuclear facility following Iraq's refusal to remove missiles the U.S. says were moved into southern Iraq. U.S. fires cruise missiles at Iraqi anti-missile sites as punishment for venturing into Kurdish ''safe haven'' in northern Iraq. U.N. arms inspectors tell Security Council that Iraq is imposing restrictions on the inspections. U.S., British military buildup in Persian Gulf over Iraq's refusal to allow inspection of presidential palaces.