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| Kuwait Campaign | |
|---|---|
| Conflict | Kuwait Campaign |
| Partof | Gulf War (1990–1991) |
| Date | August 1990 – February 1991 |
| Place | Kuwait and northern Persian Gulf |
| Result | Liberation of Kuwait; collapse of Iraqi Armed Forces occupation |
| Combatant1 | United States; United Kingdom; France; Saudi Arabia; Egypt; Syria; Canada; Australia; Italy; Netherlands; Belgium |
| Combatant2 | Iraq |
| Commander1 | George H. W. Bush; Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.; Colin Powell; H. Norman Schwarzkopf; Tommy Franks |
| Commander2 | Saddam Hussein; Saddam's Revolutionary Command Council |
| Strength1 | Coalition forces: multinational land, air, naval units |
| Strength2 | Iraqi forces: occupation divisions, Republican Guard units |
| Casualties1 | Coalition casualties (killed and wounded) |
| Casualties2 | Iraqi casualties (killed, wounded, captured); civilian casualties |
Kuwait Campaign was the military and political struggle that began with the Iraq invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and culminated in the multinational counteroffensive during the Gulf War (1990–1991), ending with the liberation of Kuwait in February 1991. The campaign involved extensive air, land, and maritime operations conducted by a United States-led coalition including United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and other states under the auspices of United Nations Security Council resolutions. It combined strategic bombing, maneuver warfare, coalition diplomacy, and post-conflict occupation challenges that reshaped Middle East security.
The campaign's origins lay in long-standing disputes between Iraq and Kuwait over oil production, debts from the Iran–Iraq War, and border demarcation near the Rumaila oil field. Diplomatic tension increased after Saddam Hussein accused Kuwait of oil slant drilling and price manipulation. Regional alignments shifted as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council members sought protection, prompting appeals to the United Nations and bilateral contacts with the United States and United Kingdom. The international response coalesced around enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 660 and subsequent sanctions and authorizations, including UNSC Resolution 678.
Coalition forces combined units from United States Armed Forces, British Armed Forces, French Armed Forces, Saudi Arabian National Guard, Egyptian Army, Syrian Arab Army, Canadian Forces, Australian Defence Force, Italian Army, Royal Netherlands Army, and Belgian Armed Forces. Command structures integrated under US Central Command with General H. Norman Schwarzkopf as commander of United States Central Command forces and General Colin Powell as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Iraqi forces in Kuwait comprised elements of the Iraqi Army, Republican Guard, Iraqi Navy, and paramilitary units loyal to Saddam Hussein and the Ba'ath Party (Iraq). Coalition naval task groups including United States Navy carrier battle groups and Royal Navy units enforced maritime interdiction operations in the Persian Gulf.
Initial stages saw rapid occupation following the 2 August 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait City and the proclamation of the Republic of Kuwait puppet administration. International isolation of Iraq intensified as United Nations sanctions and UNSC resolutions demanded withdrawal. The coalition buildup included deployments to King Khalid Military City, Dhahran, Bahrain, Qatar, and Cairo. A sustained air campaign launched in January 1991 degraded Iraqi Air Force capabilities and strategic infrastructure, while preparation for a ground offensive—Operation Desert Storm—focused on breaching defensive belts and severing Iraq supply lines. The ground phase commenced with a flanking maneuver through the Wadi al-Batin corridor and the Saudi desert to encircle forces in Kuwait.
Key actions included the Battle of Khafji, an early cross-border engagement between Iraqi forces and Saudi and Qatari defenders supported by United States Marine Corps and Royal Saudi Land Forces. The air offensive featured strikes on facilities in Baghdad, Basra, Nasiriyah, and Kirkuk conducted by USAF, Royal Air Force, and Armée de l'Air units. Ground operations comprised the famous left hook maneuver by VII Corps (United States) and the encirclement of the Iraqi Republican Guard. The liberation of Kuwait City followed breaches at defensive positions such as the Battle of Objective LION and urban engagements as coalition armored columns liberated key oil terminals and liberated prisoners of war. Naval operations included Operation Earnest Will precedents and mine countermeasure efforts to secure Mine-clearing lanes.
Coalition logistics relied on strategic sealift from Hamburg and Norfolk, aerial resupply via McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy sorties, and forward basing in Diego Garcia and Al Udeid Air Base. Tactical approaches emphasized combined arms coordination, precision-guided munitions such as the AGM-86 and GBU-12, electronic warfare by EA-6B Prowler and EF-111 Raven, and reconnaissance from U-2 and AWACS platforms. Deception and maneuver—codenamed feints and screens—were used to fix Iraqi forces while armored thrusts executed envelopment. Coalition medical evacuation systems and logistics hubs in Dhahran and Al Jubail supported sustainment, while fuel and ammunition flow were critical to mechanized formations.
Diplomacy centered on United Nations Security Council resolutions, the use of Economic sanctions and an international coalition reflecting Cold War realignments after the Soviet Union decline. Arab League members were divided, with Egypt and Syria joining coalition efforts while others advocated negotiation. Bilateral diplomacy between Washington, D.C. and capitals including Riyadh, London, and Paris secured basing rights and troop contributions. Debate within legislatures such as the United States Congress and parliaments in Westminster concerned the legal basis for force and postwar occupation arrangements. Post-conflict discussions involved UNSC enforcement of ceasefire terms and the return of Kuwaiti sovereignty.
The campaign ended with liberation of Kuwait but left long-term consequences: extensive destruction of oil infrastructure in Kuwait and environmental damage from deliberate oil well fires; the weakening of Iraqi Armed Forces and imposition of no-fly zones over Iraq enforced by Operation Southern Watch and Operation Provide Comfort; and shifts in regional security architecture prompting permanent United States military presence in the Gulf with bases in Qatar and Bahrain. Politically, Saddam Hussein remained in power until the Iraq War (2003), while Kuwait undertook reconstruction under Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and later rulers. The campaign influenced international law debates over UN enforcement, precedent for coalition operations, and postwar sanctions administered by the UN Security Council.