Gulf War Begins
Iraq invaded Kuwait, triggering the Gulf War and a UN-authorized response
August 02, 1990
Iraq Invades Kuwait
In the early morning hours of August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein invaded the neighboring country of Kuwait. Within hours, the small, oil-rich emirate had been overrun and occupied. Saddam Hussein claimed Kuwait was historically part of Iraq and accused it of stealing oil by drilling at an angle into the Rumaila oil field that straddled their shared border. The invasion sent shock waves through the international community. The United Nations Security Council immediately condemned the attack and demanded Iraq's withdrawal. Saudi Arabia, fearing it might be next, requested military protection from the United States, and President George H.W. Bush began assembling an international coalition.
Operation Desert Storm
The UN Security Council set a deadline of January 15, 1991, for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait. When Saddam Hussein refused, the coalition launched Operation Desert Storm on January 17, 1991, with a massive air campaign that struck Iraqi military targets across Kuwait and Iraq for 39 days. The air war destroyed Iraq's command and communications infrastructure, air defenses, and armored forces. On February 24, 1991, coalition ground forces launched a 100-hour offensive that liberated Kuwait and devastated the Iraqi army. General Norman Schwarzkopf commanded coalition forces, which included troops from 35 nations. The campaign was notable for its speed, its decisive outcome, and its relatively low coalition casualties.
Aftermath and Unfinished Business
President Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28, 1991, exactly 100 hours after the ground war began. Kuwait was liberated, but Saddam Hussein remained in power in Iraq. The decision not to advance on Baghdad was controversial and had lasting consequences. Iraq remained under international sanctions throughout the 1990s. Saddam Hussein suppressed uprisings by Kurds in the north and Shia Muslims in the south with brutal force immediately after the war. The Gulf War was the first major conflict of the post-Cold War era and was watched live on television by audiences worldwide through CNN's coverage, marking the beginning of 24-hour cable news as a major force in covering warfare.