On 2 August 1990, Iraq forces launched a full-scale attack on Kuwait.
In the international political arena at the end of the 20th century, a sudden military action shocked the world - the all-out attack of the Iraq army on neighboring Kuwait. This event not only profoundly changed the political landscape of the Middle East, but also triggered diplomatic and military turmoil on a global scale, becoming a landmark turning point in the history of contemporary international relations. Today, let's unravel the mysteries of this history and explore the complex motivations and implications behind it.
In the late 80s and early 90s of the 20th century, Iraq, under the leadership of Saddam · Hussein, was experiencing economic collapse, political turmoil and diplomatic isolation. In order to deflect domestic contradictions and revitalize the country, the Iraq government has set its sights on its resource-rich neighbor Kuwait. Despite its small size, Kuwait has world-class oil reserves and is an important economic pillar of the Gulf region. Iraq believes that by annexing Kuwait, it will not only solve its economic difficulties, but also strengthen its regional influence and realize its ambition of becoming a leader in the Arab world.
In the early hours of 2 August 1990, the Iraq army launched a lightning attack on Kuwait with little warning. Taking advantage of numerical superiority and well-planned tactics, Iraqi forces quickly captured Kuwait City and took control of all of Kuwait. The operation demonstrated the high level of mobility, coordination and execution of the Iraq army, while also exposing Kuwait's serious deficiencies in defensive preparedness.
Iraq's acts of aggression provoked an immediate and strong reaction from the international community. The United Nations quickly adopted a resolution demanding the unconditional withdrawal of Iraq's troops and imposed a number of measures, including economic sanctions. However, the Government of Iraq has heeded the warnings of the international community and has instead strengthened its military control over Kuwait. Against this background, the United States-led multinational force began to be formed in preparation for military action to restore Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On 17 January 1991, the United States-led multinational force launched a military operation codenamed "Desert Storm" against Iraq. This war not only demonstrated the tremendous power of high-tech weapons in modern warfare, but also marked the arrival of the era of information warfare. After just a few weeks of intense fighting, the Iraqi army suffered heavy losses and was forced to accept a ceasefire and withdraw its troops from Kuwait. The victory in the Gulf War not only restored Kuwait's independence and sovereignty, but also reshaped the political ecology of the Middle East and accelerated the process of world multipolarization.
The Iraq army's attack on Kuwait is not only a major conflict in the Middle East, but also a profound adjustment of the global political, economic and security landscape. It allows us to see the conflict and compromise of national interests, the cooperation and confrontation of the international community, and the tremendous impact of scientific and technological progress on the shape of warfare. Looking back on this period of history, we should cherish peace, promote cooperation, and jointly build a more stable and prosperous world.