Saturday, 15th January 2011
Tomorrow sees the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the air campaign which led to Allied victory over Iraq in the first Gulf War.
The massive bombing assault which started on January 16, 1991 began a more widespread offensive codenamed Operation Desert Storm.
This led to the expulsion of Iraqi forces from Kuwait, which Saddam Hussein’s troops had invaded on August 2, 1990.
Coalition forces then entered Iraq and advanced to 150 miles from Baghdad, before President George Bush Snr declared a ceasefire.
This proved to be a controversial move as Saddam Hussein continued to be a thorn in the side of the international community, leading to a second Gulf War in 2003, when Allied forces invaded Iraq and brought about Saddam’s fall.
The coalition force in the first war comprised 34 nations led by the United States and United Kingdom.
The invasion of Kuwait had brought international condemnation which was aggravated when Saddam appeared on state television with western hostages whom he appeared ready to use as a human shield. On November 29, 1990, the UN passed a security council resolution which gave Iraq until January 15, 1991 to withdraw.
When the bombing campaign began, the coalition flew more than 100,000 sorties, dropping 88,500 tons of bombs.
Saddam declared that “the mother of all battles has begun”.
The Allies’ first aim was to destroy Iraqi air force and anti-aircraft facilities. They also attacked command and communication centres and launchers for Scud missiles.
Iraq fired missiles into Israel, but Tel Aviv followed the request of the US not to respond, helping to keep Arab states in the coalition.
The air campaign was followed by land attacks into Kuwait from February 23, which saw coalition troops meet generally light resistance before the Iraqis were expelled.
Before the Iraqis left, they set fire to nearly 700 oil wells.
The coalition advance into Iraq was more speedy than US generals had expected. Forces from the US, UK and France chased retreating Iraqi forces over the border before President Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28.
A feature of the war was its accessibility to the public around the world, who were able to follow it closely on television.
For the first time, people were able to watch live pictures of missiles being fired and fighters taking off from aircraft carriers.
Another feature was that thousands of troops from Britain and other countries fell ill after the conflict with what is sometimes called “Gulf War Syndrome”.
The National Gulf Veterans and Families Association has said that more than 9,000 British veterans have suffered a cocktail of Gulf War-related health problems, typically including chronic headaches, cognitive difficulties, depression, unexplained fatigue, rashes and breathing problems.
In 2009, a landmark study for the US Congress concluded that troops’ ill-health was caused by them being given nerve gas pills and exposed to pesticides during the conflict.
The Ministry of Defence’s official position has been that Gulf War Syndrome is a useful “umbrella term” but comprises too many different symptoms to be characterised as a syndrome in medical terms.
Veterans’ representatives say this has led to difficulties in receiving pensions. The MoD says claims are dealt with as quickly as possible.
August 6, 1990: UN Security Council imposes economic sanctions on Iraq.
August 9, 1990: Security council votes 15-0 to declare Iraq’s annexation of Kuwait null and void.
August 12, 1990: Briton Douglas Croskery is shot dead as he attempts to flee Iraq to Saudi Arabia.
August 23, 1990: Saddam Hussein appears on television with British hostages who have been detained to prevent an invasion. They are among hundreds of Westerners prevented from leaving the country.
December 10, 1990: The first of the hostages are released after a visit to Baghdad by former Prime Minister Edward Heath.
January 3,1991: The Foreign Office expels eight Iraqi embassy officials from the UK after threats of attacks on Western targets.
January 15, 1991: Iraq fails to comply with the UN ultimatum for its troops to withdraw from Kuwait.
January 16, 1991, 11.30 p.m. GMT: Operation Desert Storm begins in what becomes the longest air strike in the history of aerial warfare.
January 17, 1991: Tornado pilots John Peters and John Nichol are shot down. They are captured and held for the next seven weeks.
February 24, 1991: Allies launch a land offensive.
February 28, 1991: President George Bush declares victory, but Saddam Hussein remains in power.
March 20, 2003: Second Gulf War begins.
The massive bombing assault which started on January 16, 1991 began a more widespread offensive codenamed Operation Desert Storm.
This led to the expulsion of Iraqi forces from Kuwait, which Saddam Hussein’s troops had invaded on August 2, 1990.
Coalition forces then entered Iraq and advanced to 150 miles from Baghdad, before President George Bush Snr declared a ceasefire.
This proved to be a controversial move as Saddam Hussein continued to be a thorn in the side of the international community, leading to a second Gulf War in 2003, when Allied forces invaded Iraq and brought about Saddam’s fall.
The coalition force in the first war comprised 34 nations led by the United States and United Kingdom.
The invasion of Kuwait had brought international condemnation which was aggravated when Saddam appeared on state television with western hostages whom he appeared ready to use as a human shield. On November 29, 1990, the UN passed a security council resolution which gave Iraq until January 15, 1991 to withdraw.
When the bombing campaign began, the coalition flew more than 100,000 sorties, dropping 88,500 tons of bombs.
Saddam declared that “the mother of all battles has begun”.
The Allies’ first aim was to destroy Iraqi air force and anti-aircraft facilities. They also attacked command and communication centres and launchers for Scud missiles.
Iraq fired missiles into Israel, but Tel Aviv followed the request of the US not to respond, helping to keep Arab states in the coalition.
The air campaign was followed by land attacks into Kuwait from February 23, which saw coalition troops meet generally light resistance before the Iraqis were expelled.
Before the Iraqis left, they set fire to nearly 700 oil wells.
The coalition advance into Iraq was more speedy than US generals had expected. Forces from the US, UK and France chased retreating Iraqi forces over the border before President Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28.
A feature of the war was its accessibility to the public around the world, who were able to follow it closely on television.
For the first time, people were able to watch live pictures of missiles being fired and fighters taking off from aircraft carriers.
Another feature was that thousands of troops from Britain and other countries fell ill after the conflict with what is sometimes called “Gulf War Syndrome”.
The National Gulf Veterans and Families Association has said that more than 9,000 British veterans have suffered a cocktail of Gulf War-related health problems, typically including chronic headaches, cognitive difficulties, depression, unexplained fatigue, rashes and breathing problems.
In 2009, a landmark study for the US Congress concluded that troops’ ill-health was caused by them being given nerve gas pills and exposed to pesticides during the conflict.
The Ministry of Defence’s official position has been that Gulf War Syndrome is a useful “umbrella term” but comprises too many different symptoms to be characterised as a syndrome in medical terms.
Veterans’ representatives say this has led to difficulties in receiving pensions. The MoD says claims are dealt with as quickly as possible.
Events leading to the conflict
August 2, 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait after a dispute over oil, sparking condemnation around the world.August 6, 1990: UN Security Council imposes economic sanctions on Iraq.
August 9, 1990: Security council votes 15-0 to declare Iraq’s annexation of Kuwait null and void.
August 12, 1990: Briton Douglas Croskery is shot dead as he attempts to flee Iraq to Saudi Arabia.
August 23, 1990: Saddam Hussein appears on television with British hostages who have been detained to prevent an invasion. They are among hundreds of Westerners prevented from leaving the country.
December 10, 1990: The first of the hostages are released after a visit to Baghdad by former Prime Minister Edward Heath.
January 3,1991: The Foreign Office expels eight Iraqi embassy officials from the UK after threats of attacks on Western targets.
January 15, 1991: Iraq fails to comply with the UN ultimatum for its troops to withdraw from Kuwait.
January 16, 1991, 11.30 p.m. GMT: Operation Desert Storm begins in what becomes the longest air strike in the history of aerial warfare.
January 17, 1991: Tornado pilots John Peters and John Nichol are shot down. They are captured and held for the next seven weeks.
February 24, 1991: Allies launch a land offensive.
February 28, 1991: President George Bush declares victory, but Saddam Hussein remains in power.
March 20, 2003: Second Gulf War begins.
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