Aug. 2, 1990: The moment that changed Middle Eastern geopolitics and sparked Operation Desert Storm
Iraq’s sudden invasion of Kuwait triggered an international coalition response that dramatically reshaped power and alliances across the Middle East.
On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, a small nation, with around one tenth of the population, but one which had become oil-rich in the period following World War II, a moment in history which marked a major shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics and ultimately set the stage for future US–Iraq conflicts.
Iraq captures Kuwait and gains control of oil reserves
Kuwait’s defense forces were quickly overwhelmed, with Iraq needing only a few hours to capture Kuwait City, where it installed a provincial government. The emir of Kuwait, his family, and government leaders had fled to Saudi Arabia, as did survivors from Kuwait’s defense forces.
Iraq’s invasion meant they immediately gained control of approximately 20% of the world’s oil reserves and gave the country a significant presence on the Persian Gulf coast, flanked by Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Operation Desert Shield part of swift international response
However, the international response was swift. The very same day, the UN Security Council unanimously condemned the invasion, demanding that Iraq immediately withdraw from its southeastern neighbor, and imposed a global trade ban on Iraq four days later.
Between August 1990 and January 1991, military build-up gathered pace on both sides. Operation Desert Shield saw US forces deployed to defend Saudi Arabia, while Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was amassing 300,000 troops in Kuwait.
The UN authorised the use of force if Iraq didn’t withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991. That deadline passed without compliance, leading to Operation Desert Storm and the face of Middle Eastern geopolitics changing forever.
Iraq overwhelmed in Operation Desert Storm
The next day, on January 16, 1991, Operation Desert Storm began as the 42-country coalition led by the U.S. started large-scale air campaign against Iraq, targeting Baghdad and military infrastructure.
The air war lasted approximately six weeks and met minimal Iraqi resistance, the Middle Eastern country’s only real retaliation coming in the form of SCUD missile strikes on Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The coalition also convincingly won on the ground after launching a ground offensive on February 24. A massive assault completely overwhelmed Iraqi forces, with thousands of its troops captured.
Cease-fire called, peace agreement violated
Kuwait was liberated only four days later, prompting U.S. President George Bush to call a cease-fire, and the Security Council to formally end the conflict a little over a month later.
The resolution was quickly accepted by Iraq, who had some sanctions lifted, although they were reimposed, and at times hardened, by Hussein violating the terms of the peace agreement on a number of occasions before he was overthrown in 2003, which also led to further air strikes from coalition members.
A hugely one-side military conflict
Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm were the two key phases of the Gulf War, which will go down as one of the most one-sided military conflicts in history.
While 148 American soldiers were killed and 457 wounded, and other allies suffered approximately 100 casualties, it is believed 25,000 Iraqi soldiers were killed and 75,000 were wounded.
Tragically, it is estimated there were 100,000 civilian deaths in Iraq from the effects of the war (lack of water, food and medical supplies) and a million further deaths linked to UN sanctions.
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