Gulf War

The Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and 42 other countries, led by the United States. It started with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990. Iraq had claimed Kuwait as part of its territory. Iraq is said to have suffered around 80,000–100,000 soldier losses.

There were two military operations. 

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

Operation Desert Storm attacked Iraq's forces both in Kuwait and in southern Iraq. It started on 17 January 1991 with an air strike on Baghdad. 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 2 August 1990 the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait started.  On 17 January 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 28 February. 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. President George Bush decided not to depose Saddam Hussein.

Political issues after Operation Desert Storm lead to the second Persian Gulf War in 2003.alt=metal disk with words and an eagle|thumb|Medal for United States personnel.

Related pages
 Iran-Iraq War
 2003 invasion of Iraq

References

Category:1990 in Asia
Category:1991 in Asia
Category:Cold War
Category:1990s in Kuwait
Category:Wars involving Australia
Category:Wars involving Belgium
Category:Wars involving Canada
Category:Wars involving Egypt
Category:Wars involving France
Category:Wars involving Iraq
Category:Wars involving Italy
Category:Wars involving the Netherlands
Category:Wars involving New Zealand
Category:Wars involving Pakistan
Category:Wars involving Spain
Category:Wars involving Syria
Category:Wars involving the United Kingdom
Category:Wars involving the United States
Category:1990 in the United States
Category:1991 in the United States
Category:Conflicts in 1990