Persian: Gulf War(1990-1091)
USAF aircraft of the 4th Fighter Wing (F-16, F-15C and F-15E) fly over Kuwait oil fires, set by the Iraqi military, during Operation Desert Storm
The Gulf War was an international conflict that was triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, claimed that Kuwait was historically part of Iraq, but it was widely believed that the invasion was motivated by Iraq’s desire to acquire Kuwait’s rich oil fields and expand its power in the region. The United States, acting under UN auspices and fearing Iraq’s broader strategic intentions, formed a broad coalition that included several Arab countries and began massing troops in northern Saudi Arabia. After Iraq ignored a UN Security Council deadline for it to withdraw from Kuwait, the coalition began a large-scale air offensive on January 16–17, 1991. Saddam responded by launching ballistic missiles against neighboring coalition states and Israel. However, a ground offensive by the coalition in February 1991 quickly achieved victory. It is estimated that up to 100,000 Iraqi soldiers were killed, while coalition forces lost about 300 troops. The war also caused significant damage to the environment of the region. Following the conflict, the Iraqi regime faced widespread popular uprisings, which it brutally suppressed. A UN trade embargo remained in effect until Iraq complied with the terms of the armistice, which included the destruction of its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs. The embargo continued into the 21st century and was only lifted following the start of the Iraq War in 2003.
