The Gulf War was a U.N authorized coalition force led by the U.S. against Iraq in 1990-1991 after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Iraq was deeply in debt to Kuwait after the costly Iran-Iraq War and invaded Kuwait on August 2nd, 1990 after Kuwait refused to cancel Iraq's debts. The U.S.-led coalition included forces from 34 countries which launched a massive air and ground assault driving Iraqi forces out of Kuwait and imposing a ceasefire. The war had both immediate impacts like destabilizing Iraq's economy and long term effects such as major environmental damage and health issues for veterans.

1. THE GULF WAR
1990 - 1991

2. WHAT IS THE GULF WAR
A U.N AUTHORIZED COALITION FORCE
LED BY THE USA, AGAINST
IRAQ, FOLLOWING THEIR INVASION OF
KUWAIT

3. BUILD UP TO THE
WAR
Iraq was deeply in debt after the events of IraqIran War, which saw the death of nearly half a
million soldiers and nearly the same amount of
civilians. Iraq was particularly in debt to Kuwait.
Kuwait did not agree to the Iraqi pleas to cancel
the debts. Iraq accused Kuwait of destabilizing the
economy, and openly threatened military action.
On the 23rd of July 1990, Iraq moved 30,000 troops
to Kuwaiti border. They invaded on the 2nd of
August 1990

4. WHICH NATIONS TOOK PART IN THE GULF
WAR
•
Coalition members included
Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Franc
e, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.
•
Germany and Japan contributed financially, but didn’t send any military hardware or troops
•
The Coalition was led by the USA. The USA contributed the majority of the soldiers
•
Coalition countries highlighted blue

5. MAPS
A map showing the
deployment of troops, as
well as airstrike
locations, and other
locations such as Capital
cities and Oil fields
A map of Kuwait

6. THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME
•
The Ultimate Outcome was a decisive victory for the Coalition
forces, driving Iraq out of Kuwait. A ceasefire agreement was negotiated
and signed by both sides. However, the controversies around the terms
would lead to The 2nd Gulf War, in 2003.

7. SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF THE GULF WAR
•
Destabilized Iraq economy
•
Increase in oil prices in Kuwait
•
Huge decrease in Kuwait’s GDP and the Oil Industry severely deteriorated

8. LONG TERM EFFECTS
•
Huge Environmental impact, with nearly 11 million barrels of oil released
into the Arabian Gulf, as well as at least 80 ships carrying weapons and oil.
This disturbed the entire ecosystem, and destroyed marine life. The land
where the war took place became infertile. The Iraqi soldiers burned nearly
600 oil wells, leading to massive air pollution
•
Many soldiers involved in the Gulf War have been diagnosed with a unique
affliction, known as “Gulf War Illness”. Symptoms in the soldiers include
Chronic Fatigue, Moodiness, Depression, Sleeping Problems and Muscle
and Joint Pains. It has effected approximately 250,000 soldiers who
returned from the Gulf War
•
The impact on the common people was great too, with many women being
raped in the midst of war.

9. HOW DOES IT
RELATE TO THE
ARAB-ISRAELI
QUESTION
It relates to the Arab-Israeli
question, because the Gulf War can be
seen as a result of the Iran-Iraq, which
was a result of the Intifada and so on
further down the chain of events