Operation Desert Storm

The U.S.-led military offensive of January and February 1991 that drove Iraqi forces from Kuwait during the Gulf War.

Operation Desert Shield: The 1990–1991 deployment that defended Saudi Arabia and built coalition forces before the Gulf War offensive. It preceded Desert Storm and established the forces and bases used in the attack.
Iraqi invasion of Kuwait: Iraq’s military occupation of Kuwait, launched on 2 August 1990 under Saddam Hussein. It triggered the international crisis that led to Desert Storm.
Norman Schwarzkopf: U.S. Army general who commanded coalition forces in the Gulf War. He directed the campaign’s operational plan, including the flanking ground assault.
Liberation of Kuwait: The restoration of Kuwaiti sovereignty after Iraqi forces were expelled in February 1991. It was the coalition’s central military and political objective.
Vietnam War: A prolonged war from 1955 to 1975 involving North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and their allies. U.S. planners contrasted Desert Storm’s concentrated force and clear objective with Vietnam’s prolonged conflict.
Coalition air campaign in Iraq and Kuwait: The coalition’s sustained aerial attacks on Iraqi military, infrastructure, and command targets in January and February 1991. It opened Desert Storm by weakening Iraqi forces before the ground offensive.
Gulf War: The 1990–1991 conflict sparked by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and ended by its withdrawal under coalition pressure. Desert Storm was the offensive phase of this wider conflict.
Colin Powell: U.S. Army general who chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. He helped shape U.S. military strategy and advised President Bush on ending the offensive.
1991 Iraqi uprisings: Rebellions by Shiite Arabs in southern Iraq and Kurds in the north after the Gulf War ceasefire. The coalition’s decision not to remove Saddam Hussein left these uprisings facing Iraqi forces.
Iraq War: The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and subsequent conflict that toppled Saddam Hussein’s government. Unlike Desert Storm, it invaded Iraq to remove its government and led to a prolonged occupation.

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