Liberation of Kuwait
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| Liberation of Kuwait | |
|---|---|
| Title | Liberation of Kuwait |
| Date | 17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991 |
| Place | Kuwait, Persian Gulf, Iraq |
| Result | Coalition victory; restoration of sovereignty to Kuwait |
| Combatant1 | United States, United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, Bangladesh, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Greece, Portugal, New Zealand, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Turkey, West Germany |
| Combatant2 | Iraq |
| Commander1 | Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell, H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., John Shalikashvili, Michael Jackson, Sir Peter de la Billière, Édouard Balladur, Omar al-Bashir |
| Commander2 | Saddam Hussein, Saddam Hussein (President), Ali Hassan al-Majid, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri |
| Strength1 | Multinational Coalition forces |
| Strength2 | Iraqi Armed Forces |
| Casualties1 | Coalition casualties |
| Casualties2 | Iraqi casualties; Kuwaitis civilian casualties; environmental damage |
Liberation of Kuwait The Liberation of Kuwait was the 1991 multinational military campaign that expelled Iraq from Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Gulf War. A United Nations-backed coalition led by the United States Department of Defense and senior commanders from CENTCOM executed a combined air, sea and ground offensive that culminated in the restoration of Emir of Kuwait sovereignty and the collapse of Iraqi occupation forces.
Background and Iraqi invasion
In August 1990 Iraq launched the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait under orders from Saddam Hussein, citing disputes over Oil production and alleged slant drilling near the Rumaila oilfield, provoking international condemnation by the United Nations Security Council and prompting emergency sessions of the Arab League, Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Iraqi forces occupied Kuwait City, attacked Kuwait Airways infrastructure and emplaced Scud missiles in the region, while Iraqi Republican Guard units and elements of the Iraqi Army established defensive positions around the Al Jahra and Mutla Ridge. Economic sanctions under UN Security Council Resolution 661 isolated Iraq; diplomatic efforts by envoys from James Baker III, Mikhail Gorbachev, François Mitterrand, and leaders of Saudi Arabia and Egypt failed to secure an Iraqi withdrawal.
Coalition formation and political diplomacy
Diplomatic efforts at the United Nations led to a broad international coalition under United States leadership, formalized by UN Security Council Resolution 678, authorizing force to enforce UNSC mandates against Iraq. Key coalition partners included United Kingdom, France, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and NATO members such as Turkey and Italy. Strategic planning involved senior officials Colin Powell, Norman Schwarzkopf, Les Aspin, and diplomats including James Baker III and Boutros Boutros-Ghali, coordinating rules of engagement and force contributions from Royal Air Force, United States Navy, French Navy, Royal Saudi Land Forces, and multinational logistics operations staged from Dhahran, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Al Udeid Air Base, and Naval Base Bahrain.
Military campaign and operations
Operation plans—codenamed Operation Desert Shield transitioning to Operation Desert Storm—employed deception, electronic warfare, and combined-arms maneuvers to degrade Iraqi Armed Forces combat capability. Coalition operations targeted Iraqi Republican Guard, Iraqi Navy, air defenses including S-75 Dvina and SA-3 Goa systems, and strategic command centers such as the Ba'ath Party facilities and suspected chemical weapons sites. Ground offensive phases involved VII Corps (United States) armored thrusts, XVIII Airborne Corps maneuvers, and flanking operations by British 1st Armoured Division and French Division Daguet, culminating in the breaching of defensive lines at the Khawr al-Zubayr and the Al Busayyah axis. Coalition special operations units from SAS, Navy SEALs, Sayeret Matkal, and French Commandos conducted reconnaissance, hostage rescue and sabotage missions.
Naval and air operations
Coalition air campaigns executed strategic bombing by assets including F-117 Nighthawk, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Tornado IDS, A-10 Thunderbolt II, B-52 Stratofortress, E-3 Sentry, and EA-6B Prowler to achieve air superiority and interdiction. Naval forces, comprising United States Navy, Royal Navy, French Navy and regional navies, enforced an embargo and launched Tomahawk strikes from aircraft carriers and submarines. Mine countermeasure efforts cleared channels in the Persian Gulf following Iraqi mining; coalition maritime patrols by P-3 Orion and amphibious forces deterred Iraqi Navy sorties. Electronic warfare and GPS-assisted targeting degraded Iraqi command and control, while AWACS platforms coordinated air traffic and strike packages.
Liberation and liberation of Kuwait City
Coalition ground offensives rapidly dislodged Iraqi units from their positions, enabling the liberation of urban centers including Kuwait City, Failaka Island, Al Jahra and Jabriyah. Swift armor advances and airborne insertions secured critical infrastructure: Kuwait International Airport, royal palaces of the House of Sabah, and government ministries, facilitating the return of Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and restoration of the Al Sabah administration. Retreating Iraqi units initiated a scorched-earth campaign, igniting oil wells in the Burgan field and setting fires across Kuwaiti oil fields, creating the Gulf War oil spill and severe environmental and infrastructural damage that impeded recovery.
Aftermath and casualties
The campaign ended with a ceasefire enforced by UN Security Council terms; Iraqi forces withdrew and coalition troops established no-fly zones and continuing sanctions. Casualty estimates vary: coalition military deaths included personnel from United States Department of Defense and allied contingents, while Iraqi military and civilian casualties were substantial; Kuwaiti civilian losses and displacement were recorded. The postwar period involved war crimes investigations, leading to prosecutions and sanctions against Iraqi officials including Ali Hassan al-Majid; United Nations Compensation Commission processed claims for reparations from damaged states and corporations.
Legal and humanitarian issues
Legal controversies arose concerning the authorization of force under UN Charter provisions, the scope of UNSC Resolution 678 enforcement, and the application of the Geneva Conventions to occupation conduct and treatment of prisoners. Humanitarian crises prompted responses from International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNICEF, World Food Programme, and non-governmental organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières and International Rescue Committee. Environmental litigation and cleanup projects involved Chevron Corporation, ExxonMobil, and multinational engineering firms under UN supervision and led to long-term public health studies by institutions such as World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.