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Persian Gulf War
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Iraq's Warning.
Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing oil from the Rumaylah, Iraq's oil field near the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border and warns of military action. -
Iraq's Invasion.
About 100,000 Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait, initiating the Gulf War. The U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 660 demanding Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait immediately and unconditionally. -
Iraq's Victory Over Kuwait.
Kuwait was under Iraqi control after Saddam Hussein declared a victory over Kuwait. -
Operation Desert Shield (Renamed to Desert Storm) Launched.
The United States launched Operation Desert Shield. First U.S. troops arrived in Saudi Arabia. -
U.N.'s Warning.
The U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 678 setting a deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait before January 15, 1991, or face military action. -
Authorized U.S. Military Force.
U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution authorizing the use of military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait. The votes were 52-47 in the U.S. Senate and 250-183 in the U.S. House of Representatives. These were the closest margins in authorizing force by the Congress since the War of 1812. -
Air War Commneced.
The air war commenced with a U.S. Apache helicopter attack. U.S.-led Coalition warplanes attacked Baghdad, Kuwait, and other military targets in Iraq. -
Iraqi Withdrawal.
Saddam Hussein ordered the Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait. About 10,000 retreating Iraqi troops were killed when Coalition aircraft bombed their stolen civilian and military vehicles. This is called the Highway of Death. -
Ceasefire.
U.S. President George H. W. Bush announced a ceasefire and that Kuwait had been liberated from Iraqi occupation. -
War's End.
First U.S. troops arrived home.
