USCIS 128:114. Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?

OpenAI. (2026). Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The Persian Gulf War, also called the Gulf War, began in 1990 when Iraq invaded the country of Kuwait.

At that time, Iraq was led by Saddam Hussein. After a long war with Iran during the 1980s, Iraq had large debts and economic problems. Saddam Hussein accused Kuwait of lowering oil prices and harming Iraq’s economy.

On August 2, 1990, Iraqi military forces invaded Kuwait and quickly took control of the country. Many Kuwaiti civilians fled, and the Iraqi government tried to take control of Kuwait permanently.

Many countries around the world believed the invasion was wrong because one country had used military force to take over another independent country.

The United States and other nations were also concerned about the Persian Gulf region because it contains important oil resources used by many countries around the world.

President George H. W. Bush believed Iraq should withdraw from Kuwait. The United Nations condemned the invasion and demanded that Iraq remove its military forces from Kuwait.

The United Nations also approved economic sanctions against Iraq. When Iraq refused to leave Kuwait, the United States helped organize a large international coalition to oppose Iraq.

Many countries joined the coalition, including the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others. Troops from many nations worked together during the war.

The United States first sent military forces to Saudi Arabia in an operation called Operation Desert Shield. The goal was to protect Saudi Arabia and prepare for possible military action if Iraq did not leave Kuwait.

During this period, hundreds of thousands of American service members were sent to the Persian Gulf region.

In January 1991, coalition forces began Operation Desert Storm. The coalition launched large air strikes against Iraqi military targets, including tanks, air defense systems, communication centers, and military bases.

After weeks of air attacks, coalition ground forces entered Kuwait and parts of Iraq. The coalition forces moved quickly and defeated much of the Iraqi military.

The ground war lasted only about 100 hours. Iraqi forces were forced to leave Kuwait, and Kuwait regained its independence.

In February 1991, President George H. W. Bush announced that Kuwait had been liberated.

Although Iraq was forced to leave Kuwait, Saddam Hussein remained in power in Iraq for another 12 years. In 2003, a U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq and removed Hussein’s government from power.

The Persian Gulf War is important because the United States entered the war mainly to force the Iraqi military from Kuwait and defend the independence of Kuwait. The war also showed the role of international coalitions and the United Nations in responding to military aggression.