The Persian Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991), a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force from thirty-four nations authorized by the United Nations (UN) and led primarily by the United States and the United Kingdom in order to return Kuwait to the control of the Emir of Kuwait, develops in the context of the Iran-Iraq War and in 1990 Iraq accuses Kuwait of stealing Iraq's oil through slant drilling.

The invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi troops is met with immediate economic sanctions against Iraq by some members of the UN Security Council, and with immediate preparation for war by the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

The expulsion of Iraqi troops from Kuwait begins in January 1991 and is a decisive victory for the coalition forces, which take over Kuwait and enter Iraqi territory.

Aerial and ground combat is confined to Iraq, Kuwait, and bordering areas of Saudi Arabia.

Iraq also launches missiles against targets in Saudi Arabia and Israel in retaliation for their support of the invading forces in Kuwait.

(Since the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-88 had been called the "Gulf War" or "Persian Gulf War" by many news sources, the 1991 war is sometimes called the Second Persian Gulf War, but more commonly, the 1991 war is styled simply the Gulf War or the "First Gulf War", in distinction from the 2003 invasion of Iraq.)

Operation Desert Storm is the U.S. name of the air and land operations and is often used to refer to the conflict.Shortly after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, US President George H.W.

Bush starts to deploy US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard units to Saudi Arabia (Operation Desert Shield), while at the same time urging other countries to send their own forces to the scene.

UN coalition-building efforts are so successful that by the time the fighting (Operation Desert Storm) begins on January 16, 1991, twelve countries have sent naval forces, joining the regional states of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states, as well as the huge array of the US Navy, which deploys six aircraft-carrier battle groups; eight countries have sent ground forces, joining the regional troops of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the seventeen heavy and six light brigades of the US Army and nine Marine regiments, with their large support and service forces; and four countries have sent combat aircraft, joining the local air forces of Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the US Air Force, US Navy, and U.S. Marine aviation, for a grand total of 2,430 fixed-wing aircraft.

US personnel and materiél dwarf the contributions of the others.Against them, the Iraqis have only a few gunboats and small missile craft to match the coalition's armada; but on the other hand, some 1.2 million ground troops with about 5,800 tanks, 5,100 other armored vehicles, and 3,850 artillery pieces make for a lot more strength on the ground.

Iraq also has 750 fighters and bombers, 200 other aircraft, and elaborate missile and gun defenses.