THE GULF WAR

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Article Contents

Key Facts

• Duration: August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991 (6 months and 26 days)
• Cause: Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait
• Result: Coalition victory and Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait



• Coalition Strength: Over 950,000 soldiers, 3,113 tanks, 1,800 aircraft
• Iraqi Strength: Over 1,000,000 soldiers, 5,500 tanks, 700 aircraft
• Coalition Losses: 292 killed, 31 tanks destroyed
• Iraqi Losses: 20,000–50,000 killed, 3,300 tanks destroyed
• Key Leaders: George H.W. Bush (USA), Saddam Hussein (Iraq)

DID YOU KNOW?

	The Gulf War was the first conflict to be broadcast live on television 24 hours a day!
	Over 88,500 tons of bombs were dropped during the 43-day air campaign!

History

8/20/1988 - Iran-Iraq War ended, Iraq struggles in economy

8/2/1990 - Iraq invaded Kuwait, fully conquered it within days

8/6/1990 - The UN passed Resolution 661, sanctioning Iraq

8/7/1990 - US troops began operation Desert Shield, deploying its troop to Saudi Arabia

11/29/1990 - The UN passed Resolution 678, gave Iraq until 15/1/1991 to withdraw from Kuwait and creating a coalition of forces from 42 countries opposing Iraq

1/12/1991 - The US House and Senate authorized the use of military force against Iraq

1/16/1991 - Operation Desert Storm began, coalition forces launched airstrikes against Iraq and destroys its Air Force

2/24/1991 - Coalition ground forces launched a massive assault into Iraq, liberating Kuwait

2/28/1991 - Iraq accepted a ceasefire, ending the war and withdrew from Kuwait

INTERACTIVE TIMELINE

Why important

"The Gulf War was a significant event in modern history, marking the first major conflict after the Cold War. It showcased the effectiveness of coalition warfare and advanced military technology, setting a precedent for future conflicts. The war also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing global security threats."

The Gulf War’s Significance in history is brought not only by its scale, but also by the level of technology and tactics showcased by the Coalition force. The informatization and modernization level of the Coalition had shocked the world, which had deployed hundreds of thousands of troops to the other side of the globe within a few months and had completely destroyed Iraq’s air force within only a night, allowing its ground force to crush the Iraqi force later under the cover of the Air Force.

After the Gulf War, many nations, such as Russia and China, started to modernize their military force to integrate new strategies and technology after seeing the advances in warfare in level showed in the war. The Gulf War had also changed the world’s perception of the US military and its world order maintained by the UN, which was no longer seen as a paper tiger that feared to undergo another Vietnam War, but a real threat to any nation due to its strong determination and strength.

Public Influence