GULF WAR

Above: The Allied battle plan Map

Amidst growing tensions between the two Persian Gulf neighbors, Saddam Hussein concluded that USA and the rest of the world would not interfere to defend Kuwait. On 2nd August 1990 Iraq invaded and came to control Kuwait. Within days USA along with the UN demanded Iraq’s immediate withdrawal. Few weeks later USA and member nations of UN deployed troops in Saudi Arabia. Under the aegis of the UN a worldwide coalition began to form.

Above: An Allied Aircraft deployed and dropping bombs in Kuwait

By early January 1991 over half million Allied troops made their presence felt in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Intense diplomacy between USA and Iraq failed to bring about Iraqi withdrawal. Thus from 16th January 1991 Allied forces began ruthlessly bomb Iraqi forces in Kuwait. The target was to damage Iraq’s infrastructure, crumble the morale of the civilians as well so as to cripple her militarily.

Above: Picture of Iraq missiles on display

To counter the attack Saddam launched his feared SCUD missiles targeting both Israel and Saudi Arabia. He wanted to provoke Israel into striking back at Iraq. This would split the Arab nations and focus their attention away from Iraq and on hostilities between Israel and the Arab world in general. Israel nearly retaliated but held back after American President George Bush pledged to protect Israeli cities from the SCUDs by using American Patriot Missiles. Allied power however got diverted from hitting the Iraqi army to hunting for elusive mobile missile launchers. Nevertheless allied air and missile attacks against Iraq proved to be deadlier than ever expected.

Above: US Infantry ground attack in Iraq

Iraqi occupation forces, cut off from supply bases and headquarters, were already beaten by intense air attacks, when the Allies started the ground war on 23rd February. They simply gave up without resistance. In few cases elite Iraqi forces like the Republican Guards stood their ground. But Soviet backed Iraq crumbled against superior American, British and French might.

Above: Map of Iraq (Tigris-Euphrates River)

By 26th February US and Allied Arab forces along with underground Kuwait Resistance came to control Kuwait. Allied air forces pounded the retreating Kuwaiti army. In southern Iraq the Allied forces stood at Basra on the Euphrates River as internal rebellions against Saddam broke out sporadically. On 27th February President Bush ordered a cease-fire and the surviving Iraqi troops were allowed to escape into southern Iraq. On 3rd March with the acceptance of the cease-fire by Iraq the fighting ended.

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