Persian Gulf War
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
1991
- U.S. troops engaged: 2,183,000
- Allied casualties: 147
- U.S., Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Italy went to war against Iraq on January 16, 1991, in response to Iraq's August 1, 1990, invasion and annexation of Kuwait.
- President Bush sent 430,000 troops to Saudi Arabia to lead the U.N.-sponsored coalition and protect that country from an attack by Iraq.
- The U.N. Security Council set a Jan. 15, 1991 deadline for Iraq to withdraw unconditionally from Kuwait.
- The next day, Congress gave approval for a huge air attack against military targets in Iraq and Kuwait.
- A ground war followed. U.S. and coalition forces were too much for Iraq President Saddam Hussein and his troops and the attack ended in four days.
- Iraq withdrew from Kuwait on February 28, 1991—though not before setting fire to more than 500 Kuwaiti oil wells.
- Official cease-fire declared, 1991; Iraq agreed to U.N. peace terms, and Saddam Hussein remained in power.
See The Persian Gulf War for more details about the dates and events of this war.
