The Invasion of Kuwait, 1990

What was the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait?

On the 2nd August 1990, a huge force of 300,000 Iraqi soldiers overran the country of Kuwait in just three days.

Why did Iraq invade Kuwait?

Saddam had a number of reasons for attacking Kuwait in 1990.

• ❖ Iraq had claimed Kuwait when it became independent in 1961, but other Arab states sent troops to prevent this.
• ❖ There was unrest in Iraq after the Iran-Iraq war, and threats to the regime from the military. Saddam needed a distraction and a victory.
• ❖ Iraq had $80 billion in debts to pay off after the Iran-Iraq War.
• ❖ Iraq wanted to increase its oil production to pay off its debts, but the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) wouldn't allow it - including Kuwait.
• ❖ Kuwait demanded the repayment of funds given to Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War, which Saddam took as an insult.
• ❖ Iraq accused Kuwait of drilling for oil under its borders.

What happened in the invasion of Kuwait?

There were 3 main events in the invasion of Kuwait that shocked the international community.

• ❖ Hundreds of Kuwaitis were shot, sometimes in front of their families, and thousands were arrested.
• ❖ Foreigners - mostly westerners - in Kuwait were captured and held as hostages. Some were kept near military targets as human shields.
• ❖ Women, children, the old and the ill were released, but the use of hostages continued.

Where did the Kuwait invasion happen?

Kuwait is a small, oil-rich country on the southern border of Iraq.

How did the UN respond to the Kuwait invasion?

The international reaction to the Kuwait invasion was reflected in 4 different ways.

• ❖ International opinion - including that of Arab states - was against the invasion. The United Nations Security Council imposed complete economic sanctions on Iraq that prevented trade with any country.
• ❖ The Arab League condemned the invasion.
• ❖ The UN Security Council imposed complete economic sanctions that prevented trade with Iraq from any country.
• ❖ The USA responded to a request from Saudi Arabia by building up their military, naval and air forces there.

How did Saddam react to international pressure over the Kuwait invasion?

Saddam had 3 reactions to the International pressure over the Kuwait invasion.

• ❖ Saddam had believed that America would not challenge the invasion after the help it gave during the Iran-Iraq War.
• ❖ He refused to withdraw his troops and declared Kuwait a province of Iraq.
• ❖ He promised to withdraw his troops if the Israelis withdrew theirs from Palestine in a failed attempt to win support from the Arab nations.

How did the western powers build up their forces in the Middle East in response to the invasion of Kuwait?

There were 6 ways the western powers build their forces in the Middle East in response to the invasion of Kuwait.

• ❖ The UN sent Iraq a deadline of 15th January, 1991 for the withdrawal of troops. Meanwhile, other countries began to send armies to Iraq.
• ❖ Most of the troops in the Saudi Arabian desert were American.
• ❖ Britain and France also sent large forces.
• ❖ Arab countries, such as Egypt and Syria, and other Muslim countries, such as Pakistan, also sent troops.
• ❖ Saudi Arabia contributed 100,000 troops.
• ❖ A total of over 700,000 troops were assembled in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.