On August 2nd, 1990, Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein invaded neighboring Kuwait with 88,000 troops. He wagered that the US would not get involved with his invasion. So tanks, IFV and troops crossed the border and easily overrun Kuwait forces.
15,000 westerners were taken as hostages by Saddam, this little buddy refused to sit on his lap, awkward. These were used as human shields against missile strikes.
Now Saudi Arabia being the little bitches that they are asked the US to help protect it and it's oil from a potential Iraq invasion. So the US setup sanctions, got the UN together and gave Saddam an ultimatum to pull out of Kuwait of face consequences. The US soon began setting up Operation Desert Shield to protect Saudi oil. Fun fact Osama bin Laden offered his service to protect Saudi from Iraq, the saudi's said they would considered it and ultimately go with the US
Nations in blue are those who contributed troops to help Kuwait.
While the political stand-off with the UN and the Iraq government went on, famous boxer Muhammad Ali went to Iraq and was able to free 15 American hostages.
More US troops landing for Operation Desert Shield.
Everyone's favorite BRRRRRRRRT made first used in combat in 1991. The A-10 really showed how resistant and powerful it was in combat.
The MLRS was also deployed in Desert Storm
The harrier jet made an appearance and confirmed the superiority.
F-16s and F-15s being flown before a bombing run.
Desert Storm was the first use of the M1 Abrams
Against the M1 Abrams was the Soviet T-72 MBT
The T-72 was vastly inferior to the M1 Abrams.
Stealth fighter F-117 used against Iraq
After the Iraq time was up and they had not pulled out of Kuwait the US began the air campaign which lasted three days.
The AH-64 being used in the air campaign.
After the three day air campaign the ground campaign started, which combat lasted only 5 days.
In the background burning oil fields were started by Iraqi forces in a scorch earth policy.
Battleships were used for the last time in this war. They delivered cruise missile and costal bombardment
Scud missile used extensively by the Iraqis. Some hit Israel, some used against coalition troops.
One of the iconic images of the war, the Highway of Death. Thousands of Iraqi troops trying to retreat only to be trapped in the main Kuwait road to Iraq. Aerial bombing took out the cars in the front, the vehicles in the back, with no way out, hundreds were bombed.
Iraqi soldier after the bombing in the highway
After 5 days, the Iraqis pulled out and the coalition successfully liberate Kuwait. George H. W. Bush decided to leave it as is and not overthrow Saddam Hussein. Thus ending the war. Really short and very popular, this war after the Vietnam war really helped American morale on the military. There was a lot of things I've missed but there was a lot of problems with the pills the military gave our troops to help counter potential chemical attacks.
“The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.”
Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
