Desert Storm

Desert Storm
US Air Force · Public domain · source
Conflict	Operation Desert Storm
Partof	Gulf War
Date	January 17 – February 28, 1991
Place	Kuwait, Iraq, Persian Gulf
Territory	Liberation of Kuwait; degradation of Iraq's military capabilities
Result	Coalition victory; United Nations resolutions enforced; Iraq compelled to accept ceasefire
Combatant1	United States, United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, Canada, Italy, Netherlands
Combatant2	Iraq
Commander1	George H. W. Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Colin Powell, H. Norman Schwarzkopf, John Major
Commander2	Saddam Hussein, Saddam's sons, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri
Strength1	Coalition forces (~700,000 troops)
Strength2	Iraqi forces (~500,000 troops)

Desert Storm Operation Desert Storm was the combat phase of the Gulf War commenced in January 1991 to expel Iraq from Kuwait following the August 1990 invasion and annexation. The campaign combined an intensive aerial bombing campaign and a ground offensive by a broad multinational coalition under United States leadership, achieving rapid operational success and liberation of occupied territory. The operation had significant effects on regional alignments, international law enforcement by the United Nations, and subsequent conflicts involving Iraq and neighboring states.

Background

Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, directed by Saddam Hussein, triggered international condemnation and a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding withdrawal and authorizing force. Prior incidents involvingIraq and Iran—notably the Iran–Iraq War and disputes over Shatt al-Arab boundaries—shaped Saddam's strategic calculus alongside economic disputes with Kuwait and OPEC production policies. Diplomatic efforts by James Baker and interventions by François Mitterrand and Margaret Thatcher failed to produce Iraqi withdrawal, leading to a buildup of forces in Saudi Arabia and the creation of the Coalition under Operation Desert Shield arrangements.

Buildup and Coalition Formation

The US-led coalition marshaled forces from NATO members and Arab states, including United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria, reflecting broad international consensus enforced by successive UN Security Council resolutions. High-level diplomacy involving George H. W. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, Helmut Kohl, and Hosni Mubarak was pivotal to legitimizing the operation and obtaining basing agreements with Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Logistics and staging drew on strategic ports such as Jeddah and Aden and relied on airlift by U.S. Air Force and sealift capacity from Military Sealift Command and allied navies including the Royal Navy and French Navy.

Operation and Major Battles

The air campaign, directed by H. Norman Schwarzkopf and developed with input from Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., targeted Iraqi command centers, air defenses, and infrastructure using assets from the United States Air Force, Royal Air Force, French Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force. Major engagements included the aerial suppression of Iraqi Air Force capabilities, the demolition of Scud missile launchers linked to Al Hussein and Al Samoud systems, and the ground offensive culminating in the Battle of Khafji and the rapid Breach of the Iraqi defensive lines. Coalition armored thrusts, notably by VII Corps (United States) and I (British) Corps, achieved encirclement and destruction of Iraqi formations in the Battle of 73 Easting and operations across the Persian Gulf littoral.

Military Tactics and Equipment

Coalition tactics emphasized integrated air-land operations, precision-guided munitions from platforms such as the F-117 Nighthawk, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and Tomahawk (cruise missile), and combined-arms maneuver by formations equipped with M1 Abrams, Challenger 1, Leclerc, and T-72 counterforces captured from Iraqi stocks. Electronic warfare and suppression of enemy air defenses employed systems like EA-6B Prowler and SEAD missions against SA-2, SA-3, and SA-6 batteries. Command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance functions used assets including AWACS, U-2, LANTIRN, and satellite links, enabling rapid targeting and battlefield awareness. Logistic sustainment was provided by units from U.S. Army, Royal Logistics Corps, and allied services coordinating fuel, ammunition, and medical evacuation.

Humanitarian and Civilian Impact

Iraqi occupation policies and the coalition air campaign produced significant civilian displacement within Kuwait and Iraq, with refugees moving toward Jordan and Turkey and internal displacement in Basra and Najaf. Environmental damage followed the deliberate ignition of oil wells, affecting the Persian Gulf marine environment and causing atmospheric pollution across Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Humanitarian responses were coordinated by United Nations agencies, International Committee of the Red Cross, and NGOs including Médecins Sans Frontières and CARE International, while postwar inspections by United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) addressed concerns over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs.

Political and Strategic Outcomes

The swift coalition victory reinforced US global influence under George H. W. Bush and prompted debates in United Kingdom and France about expeditionary commitments and NATO's role in regional crises. Iraq remained subject to sanctions and UN monitoring, leading to prolonged inspections and eventual contention with United States and United Kingdom governments that contributed to the 2003 Iraq War. Regional dynamics shifted as Saudi Arabia's security posture evolved, Iran recalibrated its strategy after the Iran–Iraq War, and Turkey and Syria reassessed relations with Baghdad. The campaign also accelerated developments in precision warfare doctrine, influencing subsequent conflicts and military procurement priorities for the U.S. Department of Defense, Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), and allied defense establishments.

Category:Gulf War