On 2 August 1990, Iraqi forces invaded neighbouring Kuwait, rapidly overwhelming the small Gulf state and beginning an occupation that would lead to an international military confrontation.
A force of approximately 100,000 Iraqi troops, supported by tanks, aircraft and helicopters, crossed the border during the early hours. Key positions in Kuwait City were seized within hours, while Kuwait's armed forces were unable to halt the much larger invading army.
The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and members of his government escaped to Saudi Arabia. Iraq initially installed a provisional administration and later claimed to have annexed Kuwait.
Why Did Iraq Invade Kuwait?
Iraq had emerged from its eight-year war with Iran with enormous debts and a badly damaged economy. Kuwait had provided substantial financial assistance during that conflict, but relations deteriorated when Iraq sought the cancellation of its debts.
President Saddam Hussein also accused Kuwait of producing too much oil, contributing to lower world prices and reducing Iraqi revenues. Iraq additionally alleged that Kuwait had extracted oil from the disputed Rumaila field close to their shared border. Kuwait rejected the accusations.
Negotiations intended to resolve the dispute broke down shortly before the invasion. Rather than continuing the diplomatic process, Saddam ordered Iraqi forces into Kuwait.
The International Response
The invasion brought immediate international condemnation. On the same day, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 660, condemning Iraq's actions and demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of its forces.
When Iraq refused to leave, the UN imposed wide-ranging economic sanctions. A US-led international coalition began deploying forces to Saudi Arabia under Operation Desert Shield to protect the kingdom and prepare for the possible liberation of Kuwait.
Britain made a major contribution to the coalition under Operation Granby, deploying Royal Air Force aircraft, Royal Navy vessels and British Army units to the Gulf.
From Occupation to the Gulf War
Diplomatic pressure and sanctions failed to secure an Iraqi withdrawal. In November 1990, the UN Security Council authorised member states to use all necessary means if Iraq had not left Kuwait by 15 January 1991.
Coalition military operations began in January 1991 with an extensive air campaign. A ground offensive followed in February, and Iraqi forces were driven from Kuwait. The campaign ended with Kuwait liberated and a ceasefire taking effect on 28 February 1991.
Why the Invasion Mattered
The invasion transformed the security and politics of the Gulf. It produced one of the broadest international military coalitions assembled during the period immediately following the Cold War and brought large-scale Western forces into the region.
The conflict also began a long period of sanctions, weapons inspections and confrontation between Iraq and the international community. Its consequences continued to shape relations in the Middle East for more than a decade.
What began with Iraqi troops crossing the Kuwaiti border on 2 August 1990 therefore became far more than a dispute between neighbouring states. It triggered an international crisis whose political and military effects would be felt across the region for years.