At dawn on August 2, 1990, Iraqi tanks under President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, accusing the Gulf emirate of illegally extracting oil from border-area wells. This surprise attack ignited the Gulf War, whose 35th anniversary falls this Saturday.
The nearly seven-month conflict claimed over 5,000 civilian lives, alongside approximately 30,000 Iraqi soldiers and 500 coalition troops led by the United States. The Gulf War entered history as the first conflict broadcast live on television, notably by CNN. It is also remembered, particularly in Israel and Saudi Arabia, for Iraq’s use of Scud missiles launched against the Jewish state and the Gulf kingdom, both U.S. allies. The coalition countered by deploying Patriot missiles, which minimized the Scud threat by intercepting them mid-flight before impact.
Iraq’s invasion followed weeks of threats over Kuwait’s “illegal” oil extraction near the shared border. After massing troops and equipment since mid-July, Iraqi forces crossed the sandy frontier at 3:00 AM on August 2. The United States, a Kuwait supporter, declared it an act of war.
Five days later, Operation Desert Shield commenced as the first U.S. troops arrived in Saudi Arabia. The following day, Saddam Hussein proclaimed Kuwait’s annexation as Iraq’s 19th province. Following the deployment of British and French troops to Saudi bases, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 678 in November, setting January 15, 1991, as the deadline for Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait. Aerial raids began on January 17. Five weeks later, on February 24, the ground operation started, forcing Iraq to accept a ceasefire within four days. U.S. President George H. W. Bush announced victory and Kuwait’s liberation.
The war resulted in the deaths of 3,600 Iraqi civilians, approximately 1,000 Kuwaiti civilians, and 300 civilians of other nationalities. Precise figures for Iraqi military deaths are unavailable but estimated around 30,000. U.S. military fatalities totaled 292, half (145) from friendly fire, while Kuwaiti military deaths were around 200.
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