Gulf War: Map of the Middle East
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Gulf War: Operation Desert Shield
and Operation Desert Storm
George H
Bush was
the 41st American President who served in office from January 20, 1989 to January 20, 2001. One of the important events during his presidency was the Gulf War.
Gulf War Facts: Fast Fact Sheet
Fast, fun facts and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
about the Gulf War.
What was the Gulf War? The Gulf War was
a major conflict the Persian Gulf region in
the Middle East between coalition forces
from 34 countries led by the United States
against Iraq. The Gulf war was also known
under other names, such as the Persian Gulf
War, First Gulf War, Kuwait War, First Iraq
War, or the Iraq War
What was the reason for the Gulf War? The Gulf War
broke out in response to the invasion
and annexation of oil rich Kuwait by Iraq
ordered by Iraq's dictator, Saddam Hussein.
What date was the Gulf War? The date of
the Gulf War was from August 2, 1990 to
February 28,1991.
Where was the Gulf War fought?
The Gulf War was fought in Iraq, Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Who fought in the
Gulf War?:
The Gulf War was fought by coalition forces
from the United States, Europe, Canada and
Arab Nations
What was the result of the
Gulf War?
The result of the Gulf War was a victory for
the United States and the coalition forces.
Gulf War
Facts for kids: President Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Weapons of Mass
Destruction (WDM's)
In the 1980's
President Saddam Hussein of Iraq had launched a large-scale chemical
weapons attack against Iraq's Kurdish population killing thousands
of people. In addition, his military forces had attacked targets in
Iran with combinations of mustard gas and nerve agents through the
use of aerial bombs.
Gulf War
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting facts and information on the Gulf War
for kids.
Gulf War
Facts for kids
Gulf War
Facts - 1: The Persian Gulf
countries, consisting of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, held up to
70% of the world’s oil reserves.
Gulf War
Facts -
2: The Gulf War
conflict was rooted in Saddam Hussein's accusations in
May 1990 that Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates were
over producing oil, causing the price of oil to drop,
which was tantamount to "economic warfare" against Iraq,
costing an estimated $14 billion a year.
Gulf War
Facts - 3: Tensions increased in July
1990 as Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing oil from the Rumaylah oil
field located in southern Iraq, approximately 20 mi (32 km) from the
Kuwaiti border. Saddam Hussein warned of military action as
Iraq began a military buildup against Kuwait.
Gulf War
Facts - 4: On 25 July 1990, April Glaspie,
the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, met with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
and his Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz to ask for an explanation
of the military preparations in progress, including the massing of
Iraqi troops near the border with Kuwait. Saddam Hussein responded
by denying he would invade Kuwait.
Gulf War
Facts - 5: On August 2, 1990 Iraq invaded
Kuwait and began to seize Kuwaiti oil fields and take over the
country. The Kuwait Armed Forces numbered 16,000 men. Iraq had the
world's fourth largest army consisting of 955,000 standing soldiers
and 650,000 paramilitary forces in the Popular Army.
Gulf War
Facts - 6: The Battle of Dasman Palace
(August 2, 1990) was fought between the Kuwaiti and Iraqi forces
during the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait. The Emir's younger half brother
was killed during the battle at the royal residence and his body was
later placed in front of a tank and run over.
Gulf War
Facts - 7: Within hours of the invasion
by Iraq the Emir of Kuwait, Sheik Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, under
threat of capture and death by the Iraqi's, fled the country and was
exiled in Saudi Arabia.
Gulf War
Facts - 8: On August 3, 1990 the United
Nations (UN) Security Council passed Resolution 660 condemning the
invasion by Iraq and the occupation of Kuwait and demanded that Iraq
unconditionally withdrew all forces deployed in Kuwait.
Gulf War
Facts - 9: US advisors and
officials feared that the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq was
the first step to the invasion of Saudi Arabia in order
to capture its vast oil reserves.
Gulf War
Facts - 10: President
George H Bush led the
United Nations
(UN) to impose economic sanctions on Iraq and demanded a cease
fire and their immediate withdrawal from Kuwait. On
August 6, 1990 the UN imposed a trade embargo on Iraq.
Gulf War
Facts - 11: The Iraqi army,
the largest in the Middle East, was on the Saudi-Kuwaiti
border. On August 7, 1990 King Fahd of Saudi Arabia
requested U.S. troops to help defend the country against
a possible Iraqi attack
Gulf War
Facts -
12: General Norman
Schwazkopf, commander in chief of the US Central
Command (CENTCOM) at MacDill Airforce Base, prepares a
US plan to send American troops to the area, if
necessary.
Gulf War
Facts - 13: President
George H Bush persuaded other UN nations to join a
coalition to stop the aggression of Iraq. The
coalition consisted of forces from the United States,
Europe, Canada and Arab Nations.
Gulf War
Facts -
14: On August 8, 1990
Saddam Hussein, ignoring the United Nations, proclaimed
the annexation (takeover and occupation) of Kuwait with
a "comprehensive and eternal" Iraqi merger with Kuwait .
Gulf War
Facts - 15: On August 9, 1990 the United
Nations declared the Iraqi annexation of Kuwait void and demanded
the restoration of the legitimate Kuwait government.
Gulf War
Facts - 16: On the same day the first US
military forces arrived in Saudi Arabia, beginning the build up of
coalition forces along the Saudi Arabia / Iraq border.
Gulf War
Facts - 17: President
George H Bush reported that he had launched Operation Desert
Shield (2 August 1990, to 16 January 1991) in the Persian Gulf
region. Operation Desert Shield was described as a "wholly
defensive" mission, that involved operations leading to the buildup
of troops for the defense of Saudi Arabia.
Gulf War
Facts - 18: On August 10, 1990 Saddam
Hussein responded to the action by the United States and Operation
Desert Shield by declaring a "jihad", an Islamic holy war, against
the United States.
Gulf War
Facts - 19: A Naval blockade of Iraq began on August 12, 1990
and all shipments of Iraqi oil were halted.
Gulf War
Facts - 20: The presence of
the US in the Persian Gulf did not intimidate Saddam
Hussein who continued his annexation of Kuwait. On
September 14, 1990 the United Kingdom and France joined
America in sending 10,000 troops to fight against Iraq.
Gulf War
Facts - 21: On November 29,
1990 the UN adopted resolution 678 setting a deadline
for the Iraqi withdrawal of Kuwait. The resolution
specified that if Iraq had not fully implemented all of
the UN Council's resolutions relating to the occupation
of Kuwait by 15 January 1991 that "all necessary means"
would be used to compel Iraq to do so in order to
restore international peace and security in the area.
Gulf War
Facts - 22: The US Congress also voted to
authorize the use of military force if Iraq did not
withdraw from Kuwait.
Gulf War
Facts - 23: January 9, 1991
Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, between U.S. Secretary of
State James Baker and Iraq Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz
ended in stalemate.
Gulf War
Facts - 24: On January 12, 1991 Congress grants
President George H
Bush authority to wage war with Iraq.
Gulf War
Facts -
25: Iraq failed to
meet the 15 January 1991 deadline - the Gulf War was
about to begin in earnest with Operation Desert Storm.
Continued...
Gulf War
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Gulf War for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with facts about the Gulf War for kids.
Gulf War
Facts for kids
Gulf War
Facts -
26:
Operation Desert
Storm (17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991) began on
January 17, 1991 under the leadership of U.S. General
Norman Schwarzkopf. Operation Desert Storm was the
combat phase of the Gulf war.
Gulf War
Facts -
27: The U.S. led
coalition began a massive air war to destroy Iraq's
military forces and civil infrastructure. 88,500 tons of
bombs, some containing Uranium were dropped on Iraq.
Gulf War
Facts -
28: The air attacks
destroyed much of the civil infrastructure of Iraq but
caused considerable environmental damage to the country.
Sewers flowed into the streets and rivers, and
refineries and pipelines leaked oil into the soil.
Gulf War
Facts -
29: On January 18,
1991 the first scud missiles from Iraq strike Israel and
Saudi Arabia. Scud missiles were a type of long-range
surface-to-surface guided missile able to be fired from
a mobile launcher.
Gulf War
Facts -
30: Israel feared that
Iraq would fire scud missiles filled with nerve agents,
such as sarin, and the government issued gas masks to
Israeli citizens.
Gulf War
Facts -
31: On January 22,
1991 Iraq began blowing up Kuwaiti oil wells as part of
a scorched earth policy as they began retreating from
Kuwait. Over 700 oil wells were destroyed in the Kuwaiti
oil fires. The total amount of oil burned is generally
estimated at about one billion barrels.
Gulf War
Facts -
32: The Kuwaiti oil fires burned out of
control until efforts were made to extinguish the fires
at the end of the Gulf War. The oil fires produced heavy
smoke and pure black soot-filled plumes that polluted
both the soil and the air.
Gulf War
Facts -
33: The pollution of
the soil and the air in the Kuwaiti petroleum fires and
the oil leaks in Iraq have been linked with what
was later called the
Gulf War Syndrome. The smoke from the oil fires
contained a cocktail of chemicals, notably, benzene,
hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide.
Gulf War
Facts -
34: On January 25,
1991 Iraq began another element of the
"environmental war" by pumping millions of gallons of
crude oil into the Persian Gulf. The oil release causes
massive environmental damage throughout the Persian Gulf
and to its coastlines.
Gulf War
Facts -
35: Concerns were also
growing about the type of weapons used by Iraq during
the Gulf War. On February 1, 1991 Secretary of Defense
Richard Cheney warned that the United States would
retaliate if Iraq used chemical or unconventional
weapons during the Gulf War.
Gulf War
Facts -
36: Shock and awe
tactics, or rapid dominance, was a military doctrine
used during the Gulf War, based on the use of
overwhelming power and spectacular displays of force to
destroy the enemy's will to fight.
Gulf War
Facts -
37: Between February
12-13, 1991, F-117 Stealth bombers hit Baghdad with a
massive array of high-tech bombs and missiles. 400
people are killed in an air-raid shelter.
Gulf War
Facts -
38: On February 19,
1991 President Bush rejected a Soviet-Iraqi peace plan
that would allow three weeks for the withdrawal from
Kuwait.
Gulf War
Facts -
39: On February 22,
1991 President Bush issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Iraq
to begin an "immediate and unconditional withdrawal from
Kuwait" or face an allied ground attack within one week.
Gulf War
Facts -
40: The demands from
the United States included the Iraqi withdrawal from
Kuwait City, the release of all prisoners of war within
48 hours, Iraq's removal of mines and booby traps and
the right of allied aircraft to exercise "exclusive
control over and use of all Kuwaiti airspace."
Gulf War
Facts -
41: Iraq's ruling
Revolutionary Command Council denounced the president's
"shameful ultimatum", preferring the Soviet-Iraqi peace
plan to end the Gulf War .
Gulf War
Facts -
42: On Sunday 24
February 1991, allied forces launched a combined ground,
air and sea assault in the Gulf War which overwhelmed
the Iraqi army within 100 hours.
Gulf War
Facts -
43: On February 26, 1991 Saddam Hussein
announced Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait, but still
refused to accept all the UN resolutions passed against
it.
Gulf War
Facts -
44: Queues of Iraqi
tanks, armored vehicles and trucks carrying Iraqi troops
retreated from the onslaught of the allied attack on
Highway 80 north of Al Jahra, the main road north from
Kuwait to the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Allied
forces bombed them from the air, killing hundreds of
troops in their vehicles in what became known as the
“Highway of Death”. Between 1800-2700 vehicles were
destroyed as they littered the “Highway of Death”.
Gulf War
Facts -
45: On February 27,
1991 the U.S. 1st Armored Division fights the tank
Battle of Medina Ridge against Iraqi Republican Guard
outside Basra, Iraq. It was the largest tank battle in
American history and ended in a decisive victory for the
United States.
Gulf War
Facts -
46: Coalition forces
entered Kuwait City and President Bush declared Kuwait
liberated. President Bush declared a cease-fire for
February 28, Iraqi resistance had completely collapsed.
Gulf War
Facts -
47:
The Gulf War ended on 28 February 1991. The terms of the
peace were that Iraq recognized Kuwait’s sovereignty and
that it relinquished any missiles with ranges exceeding
90 miles (150 km) and all weapons of mass destruction
(i.e., nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons).
Gulf War
Facts -
48:
Economic sanctions would continue until Iraq completely
complied with the terms.
Gulf War
Facts -
49: Gulf War
Aftermath: Saddam Hussein was left in control of Iraq.
His harsh regime resulted in the rebellion of Kurds that
was suppressed by Saddam with great brutality.
Gulf War
Facts -
50: Gulf War
Aftermath: UN inspectors sought to guarantee that all
long range missiles weapons of mass destruction had been
destroyed. Iraq failed to cooperate with UN inspectors
which led to a brief resumption of hostilities
(Operation Desert Fox) in 1998.
Gulf War
Facts -
51: Gulf War
Aftermath: Iraq failed to fully cooperate with the
inspectors and on March 17, 2003 President George W.
Bush issued an ultimatum demanding that Saddam Hussein
stepped down from power, left Iraq within 48 hours or
faced another war.
Gulf War
Facts -
52: Gulf War
Aftermath: Saddam Hussein refused to step down and UN
Weapons Inspectors found evidence that Iraq had
developed biological weapons and had an advanced nuclear
weapons development program.
Gulf War
Facts -
53: On March 20, 2003 U.S.
and allied forces launched an attack on Iraq beginning what became known as the
Iraq War (20 March 2003 – 18
December 2011).
Gulf War
Facts for kids
Gulf War - President George H Bush Video
The article on the Gulf War provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
George H Bush video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 41st American President whose presidency spanned from January 20, 1989 to January 20, 2001.
Persian Gulf War
●
Interesting Facts about the Gulf War for kids and schools
●
Summary of the Gulf War in US history
●
Persian
Gulf War timeline of important, key
events
●
George H Bush from January 20, 1989 to January 20, 2001
●
Fast, fun facts about the Gulf War
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President George H Bush
● George H Bush Presidency and
the Persian Gulf War for schools,
homework, kids and children |