Timeline of the Persian Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War, a significant conflict in modern history, began on August 2, 1990, when Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait. This act of aggression was met with immediate international condemnation.
On the same day, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 660, condemning the invasion and demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces. The UN also issued Resolution 678 on November 29, 1990, calling for the use of 'all necessary means' to force Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait if it had not done so by January 15, 1991.
In August 1990, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney and General Norman Schwarzkopf initiated planning for operations to defend Saudi Arabia from a possible assault by Iraq. Troops and equipment for U.S. air and ground forces began to arrive in Saudi Arabia around the same time.
U.S. President George H.W. Bush declared 'this will not stand, this aggression against Kuwait' in a speech on August 5, 1990. Diplomatic efforts were made, with James Baker, the U.S. Secretary of State, meeting with Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, in Geneva on January 9, 1991, in a fruitless effort to resolve the crisis peacefully.
On January 12, 1991, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution authorizing the use of military force. The offensive to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait began on January 17, 1991, marking the start of the Persian Gulf War. The early morning of this day saw the offensive damaging or destroying Iraq's air defenses, communications, military infrastructure, oil infrastructure, and transportation infrastructure.
On February 24, 1991, U.S. and allied forces began a ground offensive, crossing into Iraq and Kuwait around 4:00 AM. U.S. military planners had been planning an offensive to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait since October 1990.
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. Iraqi forces were pushed out of Kuwait City on February 27, 1991, and President George Bush declared the suspension of offensive combat operations against Iraq.
The conflict saw its fair share of tensions, with Iraq retaliating by firing missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia on January 18, 1991, 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.
The most important allies of the United States in the Gulf War, besides the United Kingdom, included France, which contributed the 6th Light Armored Brigade, and the 82nd and 101st US Airborne Divisions played a significant role alongside other coalition forces.
The conflict ended on March 3, 1991, when Iraq accepted the terms of a cease-fire agreement presented by General Schwarzkopf. Iraq later announced that it would accept all UN resolutions regarding the conflict on February 28, 1991.
The Persian Gulf War was a significant event in modern history, highlighting the international community's response to acts of aggression and the importance of diplomatic and military alliances.
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