Reasons for launching Operation Desert Storm
30 years ago, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution on the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, which had been occupied a few months earlier. It also allowed the use of force against the Iraqi forces. When Saddam Hussein ignored this call, the international Operation Desert Storm began in mid-January 1991.
On the morning of August 2, 1990, dictator Saddam Hussein's troops invaded Iraq's neighboring Kuwait, starting the first Gulf War. Due to their overwhelming numerical superiority, the Iraqi soldiers captured the capital of Kuwait and the rest of the country in a few hours. At the same time, a military coup took place in the attacked country, as a result of which the Republic of Kuwait was formed. A few days later, it was incorporated into Iraq as one of its provinces.
Iraq accused Kuwait of violating the oil production limit set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which was supposed to lead to lower prices on the market. The Iraqi President also turned to history, claiming that Kuwait was for some time part of the Ottoman Empire, of which Iraq was considered the heir. Therefore, as Hussein argued, Kuwait should be part of the Iraqi State.
The Battle for Oil
The real reason for the aggression was the seizure of Kuwait's wealth. After the eight-year war with Iran (1980-1988), Iraq plunged into an economic crisis, and its external debt exceeded $100 billion. Hussein needed money and oil revenues, and hence the decision to seize a smaller but richer neighbor with huge oil fields.
The dictator decided that the international community would not be able to respond militarily to Iraq's aggression. His perception of the world came from the Cold War. He assumed that the USSR would block a possible resolution at the UN, and then it would be difficult to talk about legitimizing an armed operation against Iraq. Hussein was also convinced that no Arab leader could stand against him. He was wrong.
The strategic importance of the Persian Gulf region, where most of the world's oil reserves are concentrated, forced the world to react decisively. On the day of the invasion, August 2, the UN Security Council issued Resolution 660 condemning the attack and ordering the Iraqi army to withdraw from Kuwait. In several subsequent resolutions, the Council imposed an economic embargo on Baghdad and called on UN member states not to recognize the annexation of Kuwait.
The United States also condemned Iraq's actions. The decisive reaction of the administration of President George W. Bush was caused by concerns about the possibility of further Iraqi aggression against Saudi Arabia. In addition, the commanders of the American army were confident that their troops could quickly defeat Iraq.
Therefore, the United States began to form an alliance of countries opposed to the annexation of Kuwait. It was the apogee of American influence in the world, and behind it stood the authority of the might of the state that emerged victorious from the Cold War. The Americans managed to create a broad coalition in which the armies of Western and Arab states fought together against another Arab country. In addition to the United States, the alliance includes 28 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Poland and Czechoslovakia. To explore a range of casino-style games and understand how different features work, visit spinfin-casino.gb.net for an overview in one place. It can be a useful reference when comparing slot mechanics, table rules, and general responsible gambling guidance.