Gulf War Chronology

In August 1990, Iraq, under the leadership of President Saddam Hussein, invaded and annexed Kuwait, a move that was swiftly condemned by the international community. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 660, demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces.

In response, the U.S. and its allies began to prepare for an offensive to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney and General Norman Schwarzkopf initiated planning for operations to defend Saudi Arabia from a possible assault by Iraq in August 1990. Troops and equipment for U.S. air and ground forces began to arrive in Saudi Arabia in the same month.

As the situation escalated, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution authorizing the use of military force on January 12, 1991. On August 5, 1990, U.S. President George H.W. Bush delivered a speech, declaring, "this will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait."

Operations to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait commenced on January 17, 1991. Special Operations soldiers began to infiltrate into Kuwait and Iraq in Early February 1991, setting the stage for the ground offensive. U.S. and allied forces entered Kuwait City on February 27, 1991, and President George Bush declared the suspension of offensive combat operations against Iraq.

The international coalition led by the United States during the Second Gulf War included the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and several other countries, forming a coalition of 42 countries in total. The ground offensive began on February 24, 1991, crossing into Iraq and Kuwait around 4:00 AM.

Throughout the conflict, Iraq retaliated against the U.S. and its allies. On January 18, 1991, Iraq fired missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia, causing no deaths and only a few injuries. A Scud missile fired from Iraq destroyed a barracks used by U.S. troops in Khobar, Saudi Arabia on February 25, 1991, killing 28 Americans and wounding about 100.

Negotiations for a peaceful resolution were attempted, with James Baker, the U.S. Secretary of State, meeting with Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, in Geneva on January 9, 1991. However, these efforts proved fruitless.

In a significant turn of events, Iraqi president Saddam Hussein announced that Iraq would withdraw from Kuwait immediately but did not renounce Iraq's claim to Kuwait on February 26, 1991. Iraq eventually accepted all UN resolutions regarding the conflict on February 28, 1991. The UN Security Council deadline passed on January 15, 1991, and on March 3, 1991, Iraq accepted the terms of a cease-fire agreement presented by General Schwarzkopf.

The Second Gulf War, marked by a swift and decisive response from the international community, ultimately resulted in the expulsion of Iraqi forces from Kuwait and a significant shift in the political landscape of the Middle East.