TIMELINE | 31 years after, key events during Persian Gulf war
On this day in 1991 the Persian Gulf War, an international conflict triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait ended as Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein accepted a cease-fire agreement.
The Persian Gulf War had lingering effects in the Middle East and across territories.
Here is the timeline of some key events during the war:
2 August 1990
Saddam Hussein ordered an invasion of Kuwait; launches an offensive on Kuwait City, the state capital.
The invasion led to an International uproar with the United States being the loudest voice.
3 August 1990
With the passage of Resolution 660, the United Nations Security Council condemned the invasion and demanded a withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait.
7 August 1990
The first US Air Force fighter planes began arriving in Saudi Arabia as part of a military build-up dubbed “Operation Desert Shield”.
Troops were mobilised and sent by NATO allies as well as Egypt and several other Arab states, designed to guard against a possible Iraqi attack on Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter.
8 August 1990
Iraqi government formally annexed Kuwait as Saddam Hussein claimed the Emirate as the 19th province of Iraq appointing Ali Hassan Al-Majid his cousin, as military governor.
29 November 1990
The UN Security Council based on Resolution 678 gave an ultimatum and authorised the use of “all necessary means” of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait by 15 January, 1991.
December 1990
Iraq made a proposal to withdraw from Kuwait provided that foreign troops evacuate the region and that agreement was reached regarding the Palestinian cause and dismantlement of both Israel’s and Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. The proposal got rejected by Washington.
17 January 1991
A US-led air offensive dubbed “Operation Desert Storm” the main phase of the war, and largest military alliance since World War Il was launched on Iraqi’s aircraft, oil-refineries, communication lines, weapon factories, bridges and roads.
24 February 1991
Operation Desert Sabre, a massive allied ground offensive was launched with troops heading from northeastern Saudi Arabia into Kuwait and Southern Iraq.
27 February 1991
A decisive victory was recorded by the Allied troops against the elite Iraqi Republican Guard, which mounted a military resistance south of Al-Basrah in southeastern Iraq.
28 February 1991
After 42 days of relentless attacks by the allied coalition aerially and on land, U.S President George H.W Bush declared a cease-fire which the Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein accepted bringing the Persian Gulf War to an end.
