History Map World

Gulf War

Period
August 1990 – February 1991
Sides
Iraq vs US-led coalition
Battles
13

The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States in response to Saddam Hussein invading neighboring Kuwait on 2 August 1990. The coalition's efforts were in two phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991; and Operation Desert Storm, from the bombing campaign against Iraq on 17 January until the American-led liberation of Kuwait on 28 February.

Sources: Wikipedia — Gulf War · CC BY-SA 4.0

Battles 13

  1. August 1990

    Iraqi invasion of Kuwait

    The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, codenamed Project 17, began on 2 August 1990 and marked the beginning of the Gulf War. After defeating the State of Kuwait on 4 August 1990, Iraq went on to militarily occupy the country for the next seven months. The invasion was condemned internationally, and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted numerous resolutions urging Iraq to withdraw from Kuwaiti territory. The Iraqi military, however, continued to occupy Kuwait and defied all orders by the UNSC. After initially establishing the "Republic of Kuwait" as a puppet state, Iraq annexed the entire country on 28 August 1990; northern Kuwait became the Saddamiyat al-Mitla' District and was merged into the existing Basra Governorate, while southern Kuwait was carved out as the all-new Kuwait Governorate. By November 1990, the adoption of UNSC Resolution 678 officially issued Iraq an ultimatum to withdraw unconditionally by 15 January 1991 or else be removed by "all necessary means" from Kuwaiti territory. In anticipation of a war with Iraq, the UNSC authorized the assembly of an American-led military coalition.

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  2. August 1990

    Battle of Dasman Palace

    The Battle of Dasman Palace, also called the Battle of Dasman, took place between the Kuwaiti and Iraqi forces during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990.

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  3. August 1990

    Battle of the Bridges

    The Battle of the Bridges was a battle that took place on 2 August 1990 in Kuwait, following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

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  4. August 1990

    Battle of Failaka

    The Battle of Failaka broke out between the Kuwaiti garrison of Failaka Island and attacking Iraqi forces during the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait, on 2 August 1990. The Kuwaiti garrison consisted of an infantry company and a company of border guards, in addition to air defense company armed with Hawk SAMs. Iraqi forces consisted of a special forces battalion transported by helicopters reinforced with a battalion of marines.

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  5. January 1991 – February 1991

    Battle of Khafji

    The Battle of Khafji was the first major ground engagement of the Gulf War. It took place in and around the Saudi Arabian city of Khafji, from 29 January to 1 February 1991.

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  6. February 1991

    Highway of Death attack

    On the night of 26-27 February 1991, US-led coalition aircraft attacked a long column of Iraqi military and civilian vehicles retreating from Kuwait City toward Basra on Highway 80, destroying hundreds of them. Images of the wreckage on what became known as the "Highway of Death" were widely broadcast, and the coalition declared a ceasefire the next day.

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  7. February 1991

    Battle of 73 Easting

    The Battle of 73 Easting was fought on 26 February 1991, during the Gulf War, between Coalition armored forces and Iraqi armored forces. It was named for a UTM north–south coordinate line that was used as a phase line by Coalition forces to measure their progress through the desert. The battle was later described by Lt. John Mecca, a participant, as "the last great tank battle of the 20th century." This battle took place several hours after another, smaller, tank battle at Al Busayyah.

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  8. February 1991

    Battle of Medina Ridge

    The Battle of Medina Ridge was a tank battle fought on February 27, 1991, during the Gulf War, between the U.S. 1st Armored Division and the 2nd Brigade of the Iraqi Republican Guard's Medina Luminous Division outside Basra, Iraq. The U.S. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, another major contributor, led the attack. Iraq's Motorized Division also participated. Medina Ridge is the name American troops gave to an approximately seven miles (11 km) long low rise.

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  9. February 1991

    Battle of Wadi al-Batin

    The Battle of Wadi al-Batin, also known as the Battle of Ruqi Pocket, took place before the beginning of the Desert Storm operations on 16 February 1991. This is not to be confused with the "Battle of Wadi al-Batin" which was fought later in the four-day ground war between elements of the 1st Cavalry Division and the Iraqi Republican Guard.

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  10. February 1991

    Battle of Al Busayyah

    The Battle of Al Busayyah was a tank battle fought in the pre-dawn darkness on February 26, 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, between armoured forces of the United States Army and those of the Iraqi Army.

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  11. February 1991

    Battle of Kuwait International Airport

    The Battle of Kuwait International Airport occurred on February 27, 1991, during the 1st Gulf War. It was a tank battle between the United States and Iraq. Despite being a very large battle it is often overlooked compared to the other battles which took place during the war. No less than elements of 18 divisions total participated in this battle. US Army Special Forces units and multiple Iraqi Commando units were also in theatre. In reality the battle took place over a span of three days despite the primary battle at Kuwait International Airport lasting only one day. Much of the combat actually took place en route to the airport. The battle featured the "Reveille Engagement" which went on to become the biggest and fastest tank battle in United States Marine Corps' entire history.

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  12. February 1991

    Battle of Phase Line Bullet

    The Battle of Phase Line Bullet was one of a series of engagements that led to the destruction of the Tawakalna Iraqi Republican Guard Division, on 26 February 1991, by a simultaneous attack of the 1st and 3rd armored divisions, the 1st Infantry Division, and the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (2ACR) during the Persian Gulf War.

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  13. February 1991

    Battle for Jalibah Airfield

    The Battle for Jalibah Airfield took place when the U.S. 2nd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division successfully attacked and captured the heavily defended Jalibah Southeast Air Base military airfield in Iraq, located 80 miles west of Basra, on February 27, 1991 during the Gulf War.

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Earlier and later events nearby

  1. c. 1754 BCCode of Hammurabi
  2. 539 BCFall of Babylon
  3. 1967Six-Day War
  4. August 1990 – February 1991Gulf WarThis page
  5. 2025Twelve-Day War

Who ruled this land

States that held this place in the historical borders data (Cliopatria). Years are approximate, as fine as the data's snapshots (every few years to a century). Tap to open the map for that year.

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