Operation Desert Storm Case Study

Operation Desert Storm was a significant part of an major conflict between the U.S. and Iraq known as the Gulf War. In August of 1990, Iraqi forces invaded the country Kuwait. This was over border disputes and war debts obtained by Iraq. The United States was worried that Iraq would then invade neighboring Saudi Arabia, one of the largest manufactures of oil in the world. The invasion marked the start of the Gulf War and the U.S. became involved immediately following the invasion. They sent troops and military supplies to the Saudi Arabian border and began the buildup of forces in the defense of Saudi Arabia which is known as Operation Desert Shield. Several months later, the U.S and coalition forces (multinational military forces against Iraq) drove into Kuwait and engaged the Iraqis which marked the beginning of Operation Desert Storm. Operation Desert Storm is the combatant stage of the 1st Gulf War between U.S and coalition forces and Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi military. …show more content…
Starting on January 16, 1991, U.S. led airstrikes bombarded Iraqi forces, destroying many anti aircraft facilities and other Iraqi communications facilities. Another target of the airstrikes were Iraq’s Scud missiles, missiles first created by the Soviets in the Cold War, that were considered a great threat to Iraq’s enemies such as Israel. Following the massive air campaign was the fighting on the ground. A second part of Operation Desert Storm, codenamed Operation Desert Sabre began on February 24, 1991 when coalition forces crossed into Kuwait and engaged Iraqi forces. Within a few days, Saddam Hussein ordered a retreat from Kuwait and it was declared