Operation Desert StormThe Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm, Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, or Kuwait War. It was a war that began on August 2, 1990 when Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. The war lasted until February 28, 1991, when President Bush declared a ceasefire. The war unofficially ended on the 26th, when Iraqi troops began to withdraw from Kuwait, having finished their mission. Coalition air forces continued to track and bomb Iraqi troops, even after the retreat began. They continued to kill Iraqi troops, and Highway 8 became known as the “Highway of Death.” The Context Why did Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invade Kuwait? In August 1988, the war between Iran and Iraq ended, but they had yet to negotiate a permanent peace treaty. When their foreign ministers met in Geneva in July 1990, it seemed that they would finally come to an agreement. It also appeared that Saddam Hussein was ready to dissolve the conflict and return the Iranian territory he had occupied. Just two weeks later Hussein gave a speech in which he accused neighboring Kuwait of draining oil from the Ar-Rumaila oil fields. an oil field located along the border and was part of both countries. He accused Saudi Arabia and Kuwait of conspiring to keep oil prices low to coddle Western oil-buying nations. In addition to Saddam Hussein's speech, Iraqi troops had already begun to gather along the Kuwait border, ready to invade. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was alarmed by this and began negotiations between the two sides to try to prevent unpleasant things from happening and to prevent the United States from getting involved, but after only two hours he had to surrender and on August 2, 1990, he ordered the invasion... middle of paper... from Saudi Arabia to Kuwait and southern parts of Iraq. Over the next four days, coalition troops liberated Kuwait and defeated Iraqi troops. At the same time, American forces counterattacked Iraq and raided the country, destroying their armored reserve. Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28, when the Iraqi resistance was on the verge of collapse. According to the terms of the peace, Hussain had to accept. Iraq would recognize Kuwait's sovereignty. They would also get rid of their biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. An estimated 8-10,000 Iraqi soldiers died, while the coalition lost around 300. Aftermath Although the invasion appeared to be successful, internal conflicts in the troubled regions led to the Iraq War that began in 2003, also known as the Second War of the Gulf. American involvementConsequences?Effects today?Crops, environment, health…