Operation Desert Storm: The Invasion of Kuwait and the Second Gulf War

By 50minutes

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the events of Operation Desert Storm in next to no time with this concise guide.

50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of Operation Desert Storm. Iraq’s decision to invade Kuwait, home to one of the largest oil fields in the world, in 1990 caused panic in the international community. Consequently, in early 1991 a coalition of international forces, the largest military alliance since the Second World War, intervened to drive the Iraqi army out of Kuwait, inflicting huge losses on Saddam Hussein’s forces in the process.

In just 50 minutes you will:
• Understand the international political and social context preceding the operation
• Identify the main leaders of the Iraqi forces and the opposing Allied troops
• Analyse the outcome of the battle and its impact on future of the Middle East

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• Language: English
• Publisher: 50Minutes.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9782806273185

Book preview

Operation Desert Storm

Key information

When: 17 January – 28 February 1991

Where: In Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Context: The Second Gulf War (1990-1991)

Belligerents: Iraq against the international coalition, supported by the UN

Commanders and leaders:

Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. General (1932-2012)

Saddam Hussein, Iraqi statesman (1937-2006)

Outcome: Victory for the international coalition

Victims:

Iraqi camp: Between 80 000 and 100 000 dead and 60 000 wounded (military losses only)

International coalition camp: 240 dead and 776 wounded

Introduction

In August 1990, the invasion of Kuwait, which is one of the largest oil fields in the world, frightened the United Nations, the Western countries and the Middle East. The perpetrator was none other than its neighbor, Iraq, the second largest producer of world reserves of this precious liquid. This event was the catalyst of the Second Gulf War between the international coalition, supported by the UN, and Iraq, led by the dictator Saddam Hussein with an iron fist.

From 17 January to 28 February 1991, Operation Desert Storm took place, the only battle in which the international coalition intervened during the second conflict in the Gulf. In just four days, they managed to oust the Iraqi army from Kuwait, demonstrating the superiority of the coalition forces over their Iraqi counterparts, but especially highlighting the true weakness of the latter.

Despite its short duration, this would forever remain in collective memory as the largest Allied mobilization undertaken since the Second World War (1939-1945), with the commitment of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, several thousand tanks and over a thousand aircrafts.

Defeated, Iraq finally