The Gulf War began when Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded and occupied neighbouring Kuwait, claiming it as part of Iraqi territory and accusing it of oil overproduction. The United Nations Security Council demanded an Iraqi withdrawal and imposed sanctions, and the United States organised a coalition of 42 countries, including Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. After months of build-up, the air campaign of Operation Desert Storm opened in January 1991, and a ground offensive in late February liberated Kuwait within a hundred hours. Retreating Iraqi troops set Kuwaiti oil wells alight. A ceasefire was agreed, and Saddam stayed in power, suppressing uprisings by Shia and Kurdish Iraqis, while sanctions and weapons inspections continued.
Before and after
- 7 May 1990Founding of European Environment Agency
- 22 May 1990Creation of Windows 3.0
- 12 June 1990Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
- 13 July 1990Founding of Central Bank of Russia
- from 2 August 1990 to 28 February 1991Gulf War
- 12 August 1990Discovery of Sue
- 15 August 1990Birth of Jennifer Lawrence
- 12 September 1990Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany
- 14 September 1990The first gene therapy treatment is given
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The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.