What Caused The Operation Desert Storm

In August of 1990, Saddam Hussein, the Dictator of Iraq, invaded the small neighboring country of Kuwait with goals to acquire profitable oil supplies. By attempting to control over one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, Hussein also posed an immediate threat to other powers in the Persian Gulf. George H.W. Bush, the American President at the time, responded to the tension stating, “this will not stand,” resulting in Operation Desert Storm. SOURCE The causes leading up to Operation Desert Storm pitted an unsuspecting Iraqi military against an international coalition that ultimately deterred and defeated the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. By the time Operation Desert Storm developed into an international incursion influencing nations throughout
The role of the U.S. in this operation was the defense of Saudi Arabia under Operation Desert Shield. The United States deployed around 500,000 American troops to deter the Iraqi forces from attacking Saudi Arabia. They requested the support of the United Nations (U.N.) to form a coalition to fight Hussein’s forces. The U.N. provided around thirty different allied countries to help support efforts by providing troops, transports, ships, aircraft, carriers, and medical support. SOURCE This enabled the campaign to liberate the small country of Kuwait from such a horrific
A system developed to shoot down enemy aircraft evolved into targeting the Iraqi SCUD missiles on the first day of the conflict. The Patriot missile system intercepted many Scuds over the course of Desert Storm, making major contributions to the success of the operation. It is still a key defense platform for U.S. forces today. SOURCE The end of Operation Desert Storm was a success resulting in U.S. and collation forces working together in the complete liberation of Kuwait in February 1991. This war culminated with true international allies working alongside U.S. forces and featured the innovation of many new weapons platforms. The first Persian Gulf War came to a ceasefire as declared by President Bush on February 28, 1991. SOURCE Due to the cohesive teamwork of coalition forces, immense air superiority, artillery prowess, and air defense capabilities, the Iraqis were very easily defeated and removed from