Liberation of Kuwait campaign

Liberation of Kuwait campaign. The Liberation of Kuwait campaign was the major combat phase of the Gulf War, a decisive military operation to expel Iraqi forces from the State of Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. A broad international coalition, authorized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 and led by the United States, launched a massive air campaign followed by a swift ground assault. The campaign culminated in the successful liberation of Kuwait City and the restoration of the Al Sabah government, with a ceasefire declared on 28 February 1991.

Background and causes

The campaign's origins lie in the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, ordered by President Saddam Hussein. Iraq's stated reasons included historical claims to Kuwaiti territory and disputes over oil production quotas within OPEC. The invasion was met with immediate international condemnation, leading to a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 660, which demanded an unconditional withdrawal. When diplomatic efforts and economic sanctions, enforced by a naval blockade in the Persian Gulf, failed, the UN authorized member states to use "all necessary means" to liberate Kuwait after a 15 January 1991 deadline. The buildup of coalition forces, primarily in Saudi Arabia under Operation Desert Shield, set the stage for war.

Coalition forces and strategy

The military coalition assembled under U.S. Central Command was unprecedented in its diversity, comprising forces from 35 nations including key contributors like the United Kingdom, France, Egypt, and Syria. Overall command was held by U.S. Army General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., with political direction from U.S. President George H. W. Bush and coordination with leaders such as King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. The strategy, dubbed Operation Desert Storm, was a two-phased plan: first, a sustained air campaign to achieve air superiority, degrade Iraqi command and control, and destroy frontline forces; second, a large-scale ground offensive designed to outflank and envelop Iraqi positions in Kuwait and southern Iraq, avoiding a costly frontal assault.

Major military operations

The campaign commenced on 17 January 1991 with a massive air offensive targeting Baghdad, strategic sites across Iraq, and Iraqi forces in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations. Key early actions included Tomahawk cruise missile strikes and stealth attacks by F-117 Nighthawks. The Battle of Khafji in late January saw a brief Iraqi incursion into Saudi Arabia repelled by Saudi and Qatari troops with U.S. support. The ground campaign, Operation Desert Sabre, began on 24 February. Major thrusts included the U.S. VII Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps executing a wide "left-hook" maneuver through the Iraqi desert, while Arab coalition forces attacked directly into Kuwait. Decisive engagements included the Battle of 73 Easting and the Battle of Medina Ridge. Coalition forces liberated Kuwait City on 27 February, leading to a unilateral ceasefire.

Aftermath and consequences

The immediate aftermath saw widespread destruction in Kuwait from Scud attacks and Iraqi sabotage of hundreds of oil wells. Iraq accepted ceasefire terms outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, which mandated disarmament, war reparations, and recognition of the new Kuwait–Iraq border. The war solidified the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, with permanent bases established in the Arabian Peninsula. Domestically, the conflict bolstered the popularity of President George H. W. Bush but left Saddam Hussein in power, setting conditions for future conflicts like the Iraq War. The war also precipitated major Shia and Kurdish rebellions in Iraq, which were brutally suppressed.

Legacy and commemoration

The campaign is memorialized in Kuwait as a national day of liberation, with monuments like the Kuwait Towers serving as symbols of resilience. In the United States, victory parades were held in Washington, D.C. and New York City, honoring veterans of Operation Desert Storm. The war demonstrated the effectiveness of precision-guided munitions and coalition warfare, influencing Pentagon doctrine for decades. It also established a precedent for UN-sanctioned military intervention. The conflict is studied at institutions like the United States Army War College and remembered through museums such as the Imperial War Museum and the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Category:Gulf War Category:Wars involving Kuwait Category:1991 in Kuwait