Persian Gulf War

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Persian Gulf War summary

Persian Gulf War

Q: What incident triggered the Persian Gulf War?

The Persian Gulf War, also called Gulf War (1990–91), was an international conflict triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, ordered the invasion and occupation of Kuwait to acquire the nation’s large oil reserves, cancel a large debt Iraq owed Kuwait, and expand Iraqi power in the region.

Q: What was the result of Operation Desert Storm?

The allied coalition’s military offensive against Iraq began on January 16–17, 1991, with a massive U.S.-led air campaign that continued throughout the war. This sustained aerial bombardment, which had been named Operation Desert Storm, destroyed Iraq’s air defenses before attacking its communications networks, government buildings, weapons plants, oil refineries, and bridges and roads.

Q: What was Operation Desert Sabre?

Operation Desert Sabre was a massive allied ground offensive that was launched northward from northeastern Saudi Arabia into Kuwait and southern Iraq on February 24, 1991, and within three days, Arab and U.S. forces had retaken Kuwait city in the face of crumbling Iraqi resistance.

1990-1991

Also known as: Gulf War

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 11, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

Also called:: Gulf War

Date:: January 16, 1991 - February 28, 1991

Location:: Iraq; Kuwait

Participants:: Egypt; France; Iraq; Kuwait; Saudi Arabia; Syria; United Kingdom; United States

Key People:: Hafez al-Assad; George H.W. Bush; Saddam Hussein; Hosni Mubarak; Colin Powell

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What incident triggered the Persian Gulf War?

What was the result of Operation Desert Storm?

What was Operation Desert Sabre?

Persian Gulf War, (1990–91), international conflict that was triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, ordered the invasion and occupation of Kuwait with the apparent aim of acquiring that nation’s large oil reserves, canceling a large debt Iraq owed Kuwait, and expanding Iraqi power in the region. It was the first major international crisis of the post-Cold War era, and the U.S.-led response would set important precedents for the use of military force over subsequent decades. Tensions in the Persian Gulf began to build during the summer of 1990, with Iraq adopting an ...(100 of 4293 words)

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