Gulf War
August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991 · Kuwait City
Result Coalition victory
After Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded and annexed Kuwait on 2 August 1990, a 42-country coalition led by the United States assembled against it, following UN Security Council demands for Iraq's withdrawal. The coalition built up forces during Operation Desert Shield (August 1990 to January 1991), then launched Operation Desert Storm with an air campaign on 17 January 1991. Kuwait was liberated and a ceasefire took effect on 28 February 1991.
Coalition
Iraq
Other
Show 34 more
George H. W. Bush
belligerent leader
Margaret Thatcher
belligerent leader
Colin Powell
Hosni Mubarak
belligerent leader
Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah
belligerent leader
Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
belligerent leader
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
Commander, US Central Command, Commanded Coalition forces
Peter de la Billière
Commander, British Forces Middle East
Strength and losses
Kuwait Killed 420 · Aircraft lost 57 · Aircraft captured 8 · Ships lost 17
United States Strength 694,550 · Killed 148 · Deaths 383 · Wounded 467
United Kingdom Killed c. 24
Egypt Killed c. 14
France Killed c. 2
United Arab Emirates Killed c. 6
Saudi Arabia Killed c. 44
Iraq Killed c. 40,000
- Killed
- c. 41,466
Units
Battles and events 20
- Iraqi invasion of Kuwait August 2–4, 1990 · Iraqi victory
- Battle of Dasman Palace August 2, 1990 · Iraqi victory
- Operation Desert Shield August 2, 1990 – January 17, 1991 · Coalition victory
- Battle of the Bridges August 2, 1990 · Iraqi victory
- Battle of Failaka August 2, 1990 · Iraqi victory
- Air campaign of the Gulf War January 17 – February 23, 1991
- 1991 Iraqi missile attacks against Israel January 17 – February 23, 1991
- Operation Desert Storm January 17 – February 28, 1991 · Coalition victory
- Battle of Khafji January 29 – February 1, 1991 · Coalition victory
- Battle of Bubiyan January 29 – February 2, 1991 · Canadian-Coalition victory
- Amiriyah shelter bombing February 13, 1991
- Battle of Wadi al-Batin February 15–20, 1991 · Iraqi victory
- Liberation of Kuwait campaign February 24–28, 1991 · Coalition victory
- Battle of 73 Easting February 26, 1991 · Coalition victory
- Highway of Death February 26–27, 1991
- Battle of Phase Line Bullet February 26, 1991 · Iraqi victory
- Battle of Al Busayyah February 26, 1991 · U.S. victory
- Battle of Medina Ridge February 27, 1991 · American victory
- Battle of Norfolk February 27, 1991 · Coalition victory
- Battle of Kuwait International Airport February 27, 1991 · American victory
Before and after
- Followed from
- Iran–Iraq War September 22, 1980 – August 20, 1988
- Led to
- Battle of Rumaila March 2, 1991
Related events
Also involved 38
- Hafez al-Assad
- Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
- Martti Ahtisaari
- Hussein Farrah Aidid
- Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
- Gary E. Luck
- Martin Dempsey
- Jim Mattis
- Hugh Shelton
- Mark Esper
- Raymond T. Odierno
- Peter Schoomaker
- Mustafa Tlass
- James T. Conway
- John A. Toolan
- Rupert Smith
- Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri
- Salah Aboud Mahmoud
- Kamel Sajid
- Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai
- Sadi Tuma Abbas
- Ali Hassan al-Majid
- Timothy McVeigh
- James L. Jones