Gulf War

Follow the story · Four stages

1. 01

   Background

   Post-Iran–Iraq War debt, disputes over oil and borders, and tensions between Iraq and Kuwait combined to produce a regional security crisis.

   • Post-Iran–Iraq War debt, disputes over oil and borders, and tensions between Iraq and Kuwait combined to produce a regional security crisis.
   • Core event: From Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 to the February 1991 ceasefire, United Nations resolutions and a U.S.-led coalition fought to liberate Kuwait.
   • Connection to the next stage: After Iraq invaded Kuwait, sanctions and diplomacy were followed by a coalition buildup in Saudi Arabia. Air strikes and a ground campaign forced Iraqi forces to withdraw.

   
2. 02

   Course

   After Iraq invaded Kuwait, sanctions and diplomacy were followed by a coalition buildup in Saudi Arabia. Air strikes and a ground campaign forced Iraqi forces to withdraw.

   • After Iraq invaded Kuwait, sanctions and diplomacy were followed by a coalition buildup in Saudi Arabia.
   • Air strikes and a ground campaign forced Iraqi forces to withdraw.
   • Conditions behind the action: Post-Iran–Iraq War debt, disputes over oil and borders, and tensions between Iraq and Kuwait combined to produce a regional security crisis.

   
3. 03

   Outcome

   Kuwait was liberated, but sanctions, weapons inspections, uprisings, and the continuing U.S. military presence reshaped Gulf politics and helped set the context for the 2003 Iraq War.

   • Kuwait was liberated, but sanctions, weapons inspections, uprisings, and the continuing U.S. military presence reshaped Gulf politics and helped set the context for the 2003 Iraq War.
   • Process producing the result: After Iraq invaded Kuwait, sanctions and diplomacy were followed by a coalition buildup in Saudi Arabia. Air strikes and a ground campaign forced Iraqi forces to withdraw.
   • Question carried forward: The Gulf War displayed post–Cold War collective security and U.S. military dominance, while also exposing the long-term consequences of oil politics, bases, civilian harm, and sanctions.

   
4. 04

   Historical significance

   The Gulf War displayed post–Cold War collective security and U.S. military dominance, while also exposing the long-term consequences of oil politics, bases, civilian harm, and sanctions.

   • The Gulf War displayed post–Cold War collective security and U.S. military dominance, while also exposing the long-term consequences of oil politics, bases, civilian harm, and sanctions.
   • Immediate consequence: Kuwait was liberated, but sanctions, weapons inspections, uprisings, and the continuing U.S. military presence reshaped Gulf politics and helped set the context for the 2003 Iraq War.
   • Historical turning point: From Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 to the February 1991 ceasefire, United Nations resolutions and a U.S.-led coalition fought to liberate Kuwait.