On this day in 1990, Iraqi forces invaded the tiny oil-rich nation of Kuwait. Kuwaiti defenses were quickly overwhelmed, and within hours of the invasion, the Iraqi forces had captured Kuwait City. Despite unanimous denouncement from the United Nations Security Council, and a forced ban on all trade with Iraq, Saddam Hussein refused to budge. Seven days later, Operation Desert Shield began to build up, as U.S. forces raced to the Persian Gulf. At 4:30 p.m. EST on January 16, 1991, Operation Desert Storm, the massive U.S.-led offensive against Iraq, began as the first fighter aircraft were launched from Saudi Arabia and from U.S. and British aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 21:05:46 +0000
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