Gulf War

Gulf War

The Gulf War was a big conflict between Iraq and a group of 42 countries led by the United States. It happened in 1990 and 1991.

It began when Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq wanted Kuwait’s oil. The world said this was wrong. The United Nations told Iraq to leave Kuwait. Countries around the world joined together, with big help from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Egypt.

The coalition started bombing Iraq and Kuwait on January 17, 1991. Iraq tried to start fights with Israel and Saudi Arabia, but this did not work. On February 24, the coalition began moving soldiers on the ground. After just over 100 hours of fighting, Kuwait was freed and the fighting stopped.

The war changed how battles were fought. For the first time, people could watch the war on TV thanks to CNN. The United States used new technology like satellites, GPS, and special airplanes called stealth aircraft. Big tank battles happened. The war also caused big problems for the environment when Iraq set many oil wells on fire and spilled a lot of oil into the water.

Names

The war has many names. It is also called the Second Gulf War (not to be confused with the 2003 Iraq War), Persian Gulf War, Kuwait War, or Iraq War before the term "Iraq War" became linked to the 2003 conflict. Iraqi leaders called it Umm al-Ma'arik, meaning "mother of all battles." After the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Gulf War of 1990–1991 is often called the "First Iraq War".

Common terms for the conflict include Gulf War and Persian Gulf War, especially in western countries. Some writers called it the Second Gulf War to set it apart from the Iran–Iraq War. Liberation of Kuwait is the term used by Kuwait and many Arab nations that joined the coalition.

Many countries gave their own names to their parts in the war. For example:

• Operation Desert Shield was the US name for the buildup of forces from August 1990 to January 1991
• Operation Desert Storm was the US name for the conflict from January to February 1991
  • Operation Desert Sabre was the name for the final air and land battle in February 1991
• Operation Desert Farewell was the name for the US troops returning home after Kuwait was freed
• Operativo Alfil was the Argentine name for their military activities
• Opération Daguet was the French name for their activities
• Operation Friction was the Canadian name
• Operation Granby was the British name
• Operazione Locusta was the Italian name

Background

See also: Rationale for the Gulf War, Iraq–Kuwait relations, and Iraq–United States relations

During a time when the world had two big groups of countries (the Cold War), Iraq was friends with one group, the Soviet Union, and had problems with the other group, led by the United States. The United States did not like some of Iraq's actions.

When Iraq fought with Iran in 1980, the United States stayed neutral but helped Iraq with supplies. By 1988, when the war ended, Iraq owed a lot of money to nearby countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Iraq asked to have these debts forgiven but was refused.

Iraq and Kuwait also had land problems. Iraq said Kuwait belonged to them, but Kuwait disagreed. Iraq also said Kuwait was taking more oil than allowed from shared fields, which hurt Iraq's economy. These arguments caused tensions between the two countries.

In July 1990, Iraq moved troops near the Kuwait border and made threats. The United States sent ships and planes to the area. Despite some talks, Iraq felt other countries were against them, and tensions kept growing.

Invasion of Kuwait

Main articles: Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and Timeline of the Gulf War (1990–1991)

In August 1990, Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait. The invasion started with bombing of Kuwait City, Kuwait's capital. Iraq wanted money from Kuwait, but Kuwait would not give it, so Iraq invaded.

Iraq's army was large and well-equipped. Kuwait's army was smaller and not ready. Iraqi forces attacked from many directions and took control of most of Kuwait in just two days. Many Kuwaiti soldiers ran to nearby Saudi Arabia or were overwhelmed by Iraqi forces.

After the invasion, Iraq controlled Kuwait and set up a new government led by one of Saddam Hussein's relatives. Iraqi soldiers took large amounts of money from Kuwait's bank, making Kuwaiti money worthless. Even so, many ordinary Kuwaiti people formed a resistance movement to oppose the Iraqi occupation, showing great bravery.

Run-up to the war

Diplomatic means

In 1984, the United States worried a war between Iran and Iraq might spread. They planned to protect oil supplies and support friendly countries. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the United Nations passed resolutions telling Iraq to leave. Sanctions and a naval blockade were used to pressure Iraq.

Iraq tried to make deals, but the United States and others refused. The UN gave Iraq a deadline to leave Kuwait or face force.

Military means

Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait put nearby Saudi Arabia at risk. The United States sent troops and aircraft to help protect Saudi Arabia, starting Operation Desert Shield. More forces arrived from many countries.

Creating a coalition

The United States worked with many nations to form a large group, called a coalition, to oppose Iraq’s actions. Countries like Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia joined, along with others from around the world. The coalition was one of the biggest since World War II.

Justification for intervention

The main reasons for getting involved were to protect Kuwait’s borders and to support Saudi Arabia, a key ally. There were also worries about Iraq’s weapons.

Public relations campaign targeting the public

To gain support for the war, Kuwait hired a public relations firm. They shared stories that turned out to be untrue. These stories influenced many people and leaders to support military action.

Early battles

Air campaign

The Gulf War began with a big bombing campaign on January 16, 1991. For 42 days and nights, planes from many countries dropped bombs on Iraq. They hit places where Iraq kept its soldiers and fighting tools.

Iraq tried to stop the planes, but their tools did not work very well. Only a few planes were lost during all the bombing.

Iraqi Scud missile strikes on Israel and Saudi Arabia

Main articles: Iraqi rocket attacks on Israel and Iraqi rocket attacks on Saudi Arabia

Before the war started, Iraq said it would attack Israel if the war began. Iraq sent missiles to Israel and Saudi Arabia during the war. These missiles caused some damage and hurt some people, but not as much as Iraq hoped.

Israel wanted to fight back, but the United States asked them not to. The United States and others sent special missile defenses to help protect Israel.

Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia (Battle of Khafji)

Main article: Battle of Khafji

On January 29, Iraqi soldiers tried to take over a town in Saudi Arabia called Khafji. After two days of fighting, the Iraqi soldiers were pushed back by soldiers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United States. Many Iraqi soldiers were hurt or captured, and some American soldiers were also hurt in the fighting.

Counter reconnaissance for 2nd Armored Division

Main article: Battle of Norfolk

Task Force 1-41 Infantry was a strong group from the US Army that belonged to the 2nd Armored Division. This group was the first to enter Iraq from Saudi Arabia on February 15, 1991. They began fighting there on February 17, 1991. Their job was to stop the enemy from watching their movements. They worked with other units and were called Task Force Iron.

On February 15, 1991, they attacked enemy vehicles that were watching them. Over the next few days, they fought small battles with Iraqi forces. They used missiles and artillery to defend themselves. Though they faced attacks, they protected their position and continued their mission.

Breach

Task Force 1–41 Infantry was the first group of soldiers to enter Iraq from Saudi Arabia on February 15, 1991. They fought Iraqi soldiers starting on February 17, 1991. Before the fighting began, a large artillery attack happened. About 300 guns from many countries fired more than 14,000 shells. Special rocket systems added another 4,900 rockets aimed at Iraqi targets. This attack destroyed many Iraqi guns.

During the battles, coalition forces faced Iraqi soldiers in strong positions. They used guns, rocket launchers, and mortars to fight back. The coalition forces moved through these positions, capturing many Iraqi soldiers and destroying their equipment. They also captured important Iraqi leaders and many tanks and vehicles. The fighting was tough, but the coalition forces made progress.

Main article: Battle of Norfolk

See also: Task Force 1-41 Infantry

Ground campaign

See also: Battle of Al Busayyah, Battle of Phase Line Bullet, Battle of 73 Easting, Battle of Norfolk, Battle of Medina Ridge, Battle of Kuwait International Airport, and Battle of Rumaila

Before the main ground attack, there was a big artillery fight that lasted for about 2.5 hours. Many tanks, vehicles, and other military equipment were destroyed in these battles. Some of the biggest tank fights in history happened during this time.

The U.S. had many tanks and other fighting vehicles. They fought many big battles against Iraqi forces. By the end of the fighting, many Iraqi soldiers were captured, and a lot of their tanks and vehicles were destroyed.

The U.S. Marines also fought important battles, especially at Kuwait International Airport. They destroyed many Iraqi tanks and took many prisoners.

The United Kingdom’s forces, known as the Desert Rats, also played a big role. They traveled far and fought hard, capturing or destroying many Iraqi tanks and vehicles.

Iraq had many tanks and fighting units, but they lost a lot during the battles. Many Iraqi soldiers were captured, wounded, or lost their equipment.

Liberation of Kuwait

Main article: Liberation of Kuwait campaign

See also: Order of battle of the Gulf War ground campaign

Before Kuwait was freed, there were attacks to confuse the Iraqis. On 24 February 1991, Marines and other forces moved into Kuwait and faced some traps but found many Iraqi soldiers ready to give up. There were a few fights, but most Iraqis didn’t put up much of a fight.

Kuwaiti forces helped free their city with little loss. On 27 February, Saddam Hussein told his troops to leave Kuwait, but some Iraqi soldiers at the airport kept fighting until they were defeated. After four days, Iraqi forces were driven out of Kuwait. Sadly, the Iraqis set many oil wells on fire before leaving.

Initial moves into Iraq

The ground war began with special forces moving into Iraq to gather information. On 15 February 1991, U.S. soldiers attacked Iraqi forces, catching them by surprise. There were also battles to trick the Iraqis about where the main attack would come from.

Coalition forces enter Iraq

On 24 February, large coalition forces moved into Iraq. They used surprise and quick moves to go around Iraqi defenses. The 101st Airborne Division flew far behind enemy lines to block escape routes. There were intense fights, but coalition forces kept moving forward, capturing many prisoners and destroying Iraqi equipment.

End of active hostilities

See also: Kuwaiti oil fires

After the fighting stopped, leaders from Iraq and the coalition met to talk about peace. Iraq was allowed to use helicopters, but these were later used against people in southern Iraq. On March 1, 1991, people in Basra stood up against the government. This quickly spread to many cities in southern Iraq such as Najaf, Amarah, Diwaniya, Hilla, Karbala, Kut, Nasiriyah, and Samawah.

In northern Iraq, Kurdish leaders also began to fight. The Iraqi army stopped these fights and the rebellion in the south. Many Kurds had to leave and go to Turkey and Iran. The Iraqi government said they had stopped all rebellions in the country.

In Kuwait, the leader came back to power. Many people thought to have helped Iraq were sent away from the country, including many Palestinians. Some leaders in the United States were later criticized for not removing Saddam Hussein from power.

Coalition involvement

Main articles: Coalition of the Gulf War and Naval organization of the U.S.-led coalition during the Gulf War

Many countries joined together to help the United States during the Gulf War. This group was called the coalition and included nations from around the world such as Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and many others. In total, 42 countries worked together to stop Iraq from taking over Kuwait.

The United States had the most troops, with 700,000 soldiers. Some countries, like Germany and Japan, did not send soldiers but gave money and supplies to help.

Australia

Main article: Australia in the Gulf War

Australia sent ships and medical teams to help keep the waters safe and support other forces. Australian ships helped clear mines and protect important areas.

Argentina

Main article: Operativo Alfil

Argentina, a country in South America, was the only nation from that part of the world to join the coalition. They sent ships to help control the waters around the Persian Gulf.

Canada

Main article: Operation Friction

Canada was one of the first countries to say they would help. They sent ships to protect the waters and aircraft to support the forces from the air.

France

Main article: Opération Daguet

France sent almost 18,000 soldiers and many aircraft to help in the fight. Their forces worked closely with American and Saudi troops.

Italy

Main article: Operazione Locusta

Italy sent aircraft to help with the air attacks. Their pilots flew many missions during the 42 days of fighting.

United Kingdom

Main article: Operation Granby

The United Kingdom sent a large group of soldiers, aircraft, and ships to help. Their forces were very important in fighting against Iraqi troops and helped destroy many enemy tanks.

Casualties

Civilian

More than 1,000 people from Kuwait were sadly lost when Iraq took over their country. Many more were missing, and some remains were found far away later. Big air attacks caused many people to be hurt or lost in the early days of the fighting.

One sad event happened when two planes dropped bombs on a building, and many people inside were lost. There were different ideas about whether the building was a place for families or had some military use.

After the main fighting ended, there were uprisings in Iraq where many people were sadly lost.

Iraqi

Bombing by coalition forces had a big effect on Iraq. The exact number of Iraqi soldiers who were lost is not known, but it is thought to be very high. Reports from different groups give different numbers, but all agree it was a heavy loss.

Coalition

The United States lost 148 soldiers in battles, with some of these losses happening because of mistakes by other allied forces. The United Kingdom lost 47 soldiers, France lost 9, and other countries lost 37 soldiers. Many more soldiers were lost in accidents.

One of the biggest losses happened when a missile hit a building where many soldiers were staying, and 28 American soldiers were lost. In total, 190 soldiers from the coalition were lost in fights with Iraqi forces, and many more were lost in accidents or because of mistakes by other allied forces.

The number of soldiers who were hurt in fights was 776, including 458 from the United States.

Friendly fire

Sadly, some soldiers were lost because of mistakes made by other soldiers on their own side. Out of the 148 American soldiers lost in battle, 35 were lost this way. Eleven more were lost when their own weapons exploded. Nine soldiers from the United Kingdom were also lost when a plane mistakenly hit their group.

Aftermath

Gulf War illness

Many soldiers who fought in the war later felt unwell. They felt very tired, had muscle pain, and stomach problems. Scientists are still trying to understand what caused these health issues. Some studies suggest that exposure to certain chemicals might be linked, but there isn’t enough information to be certain.

Effects of depleted uranium

The military used special bullets made from a material called depleted uranium. While this material isn’t very dangerous unless it gets inside the body, there has been concern about its long-term effects on people’s health. Some believe it may have contributed to health problems for soldiers and people living nearby, but scientists don’t all agree on this.

Highway of Death

During the war, Iraqi forces tried to escape from Kuwait by driving north on a main road. Coalition aircraft attacked these vehicles, leaving many destroyed cars and trucks along the highway. This event became known as the Highway of Death.

Palestinian exodus from Kuwait

After the war, many Palestinians living in Kuwait were forced to leave the country. This happened because Kuwaiti authorities were angry that Palestinian leaders supported Iraq during the conflict.

Coalition bombing of Iraq's civilian infrastructure

Allied forces bombed many buildings and facilities in Iraq that weren’t directly related to fighting. This included power plants, factories, and roads. The idea was to weaken Iraq’s ability to support itself, but it also caused a lot of damage to everyday life for people living there.

Operation Southern Watch

After the war, the United States kept some troops in Saudi Arabia to help enforce rules about flying over parts of Iraq. This presence upset many people because Saudi Arabia is home to important religious sites for Muslims.

Sanctions

The United Nations placed economic sanctions on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. These sanctions made it hard for Iraq to trade with other countries, which caused serious problems for everyday people, including poverty and lack of food.

Draining of the Qurna Marshes

Large wetlands in southern Iraq were drained during and after the war. This project aimed to change the land for other uses but also displaced people who lived there and damaged the environment.

Oil spill

At one point during the war, Iraq poured a huge amount of oil into the Persian Gulf on purpose. This caused a major environmental disaster and was one of the largest oil spills ever recorded.

Kuwaiti oil fires

As Iraqi forces left Kuwait, they set fire to many oil wells. These fires burned for many months, causing a lot of pollution and damage to the environment. It took a long time and a lot of money to put out these fires.

Cost

The war cost the United States about $61 billion, which is like $122 billion today. Many other countries helped pay this cost. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab countries near the Persian Gulf paid $36 billion, while Germany and Japan paid $16 billion. These two countries did not send soldiers to fight because of their laws.

The war also hurt many developing countries. Egypt lost about $1 billion, which was 3% of its money for that year. Yemen lost $830 million, which was 10% of its money, and Jordan lost $1.8 billion, which was a big part—32%—of its money for that year.

To help these countries, a group of 24 nations worked together to give $14 billion in aid. The World Bank also helped by giving money faster, and the International Monetary Fund made special loans available. The European Community offered $2 billion to support these nations too.

Media coverage

Main article: Media coverage of the Gulf War

During the Gulf War, news was shared differently than in the Vietnam War. The military controlled most of the information. Only some reporters could go close to the fighting, and they had to stay with officers. They could not share some details to keep secrets safe from Iraq.

Two reporters from the BBC stayed in Baghdad to share what they saw. They talked about a missile that followed a street and turned at a traffic light. Other groups shared different views about the war, and some looked closely at how the news was told to the public.

Technology and equipments

Further information: List of Gulf War military equipment

The Gulf War used some of the first very accurate bombs and hidden airplanes, like the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk. Experts called it the "first space war" because the United States used satellites for watching, talking, and finding their way.

These accurate bombs, sometimes called "smart bombs," were important because they could hit targets without hurting many people. Other types included cluster bombs and very big bombs called "daisy cutters."

New GPS units helped soldiers move easily across the desert. Special airplane systems like AWACS and satellite communications helped different parts of the coalition work together.

American copiers were used to copy Iraq's battle plans, and some of these copiers helped American airplanes find the plans, making bombings better.

Iraq used Scud missiles in the war, shooting them at Saudi Arabia and Israel. The United States used Patriot missiles to try to stop the Scuds.

In popular culture

The Gulf War has inspired many video games, such as Conflict: Desert Storm, Conflict: Desert Storm II, Gulf War: Operation Desert Hammer, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. It has also appeared in movies, like Jarhead from 2005, and the Bollywood film Airlift from 2016. Musician Gil Scott-Heron wrote a song called "Work for Peace" about the conflict.