Gulf War

When & why:

- It started on August 6 in 1990 and it finished on 28 February 1991.
- Started because Iraq wanted to conquered Kuwait for its petroleum.
- The Gulf War took place between August 1990 and February 1991 and was sparked
by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator at the time,
justified the invasion by citing historical and economic grievances, but it was widely
seen as an aggressive move aimed at annexing Kuwait's oil resources and
strengthening Iraq's regional power.
Number of countries:
- Are 21 countries are : Kuwait, EEUU, United Kingdom, Arab league, Francia,
Dinamarca, Pakistán, Belgica, Canadá, Australia y Nueva Zelanda, Argentina,
España, Italia, Bangladesh, Níger, Polonia Checoslovaquia, Grecia, Corea del Sur
and Hungaria.
Dictator:
- Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006), was an
Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 to
2003.
- Saddam was overthrown in April 2003 following the US-led invasion of Iraq, and
executed for crimes against humanity in 2006.
- Over a decade after his death, Saddam's legacy remains a divisive issue.
Kuwait and oil price:
- During the Gulf War in 1990-1991, Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to a significant
disruption in oil production and a spike in oil prices. After the liberation of Kuwait, oil
prices initially dropped as production resumed. However, the oil markets remained
volatile for some time due to geopolitical uncertainties and concerns about oil supply
stability in the region.
OPEC:
steal oil:
USA Bush opinion:
United Nations:
- The United Nations tried everything to get Iraq to leave Kuwait, such as blocking air
traffic. But they were unsuccessful so the United Nations told Iraq that they had to
leave Kuwait by January 15, 1991. But when this did not happen, the attack began.
Saudi Arabia (used for):
- Fahd the king of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait sought help from the United States and
other members of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to help fight against
Iraq.
NATO:
- Nato is an alliance between several countries in Europe and North America that
seeks the security and freedom of its members.
- Although NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) did not play a direct military role
in the Gulf War, the conflict highlighted the importance of international alliances and
cooperation in overcoming regional security challenges.
- Nato's first military operations were in 1990-1991 in the gulf war.
 - This operations were Anchored Guard, for maritime defense, and Ace Guard, for air
defense,
January 15th 1991:
- Saddam Hussein announces that Iraq will consider taking away its troops from
Kuwait under some conditions.
- 15 January: 580,000 Coalition troops are stationed in the Gulf region, opposing
540,000 Iraqi troops.
- 15 January: First U.S. government statement relating to Operation Desert Storm is
made.
- January 15, 1991 marked the deadline set by the United Nations for Iraq's withdrawal
from Kuwait. Faced with Iraq's refusal to comply, the coalition launched Operation
Desert Storm, a massive military campaign aimed at liberating Kuwait and expelling
Iraqi forces from the country.
Operation Desert Storm:
- In 1991 the Persian Gulf was the site of a new kind of conflict: Operation Desert
Storm.
- With the latest warfighting technology at their disposal, a US led coalition dismantled
the world's 4th largest army within a matter of days.
- This stunning victory was achieved with just a few hundred losses.
- Operation Desert Storm was the codename for the military campaign led by coalition
forces to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. This involved airstrikes, ground offensives,
and naval operations aimed at weakening Iraqi defenses and restoring Kuwaiti
sovereignty.
February 23rd 1991:
- On the 23rd, the CIA reported that Iraq had moved 30,000 troops to the Iraq-Kuwait
border, and the US naval fleet in the Persian Gulf was placed on alert.
- Saddam believed an anti-Iraq conspiracy was developing – Kuwait had begun talks
with Iran, and Iraq's rival Syria had arranged a visit to Egypt.
- February 23, 1991 marked the official end of the Gulf War, with the liberation of
Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. The ceasefire was negotiated following the decisive
defeat of Iraqi forces at the hands of the coalition, leading to the withdrawal of Iraqi
troops from Kuwaiti territory.