On August 2, 1990, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded and annexed Kuwait, the small oil-rich nation on Iraq’s southern border. In response, Operation Desert Shield, the largest alliance since World War II was formed and led by the United States, initially to defend Saudi Arabia, and then to prepare for the retake of Kuwait.
More than 500,000 US troops were deployed to Saudi Arabia beginning this day in 1990. As diplomacy wore on, and eventually failed, the UN passed a resolution authorizing all necessary means to remove Iraq from Kuwait, and Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm: the military to remove Saddam’s forces.
The war was quick, over in 100 hours, and Iraq was expelled from Kuwait. The conflict with the West simmered however, leading to a second, far more disastrous conflict in 2003.
-onthisday.com
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.