On August 2, 1990, the invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein set in motion a chain of events that culminated in one of the most decisive military operations of the late 20th century. The what started Desert Storm was not merely a response to territorial aggression, but a complex convergence of geopolitical ambition, economic pressure, and strategic miscalculation by Baghdad. The international community, led by the United States, perceived an unacceptable threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and the global oil market, prompting a rapid and unprecedented coalition buildup.
The Invasion of Kuwait and Regional Unrest
To understand what started Desert Storm, one must look back at the simmering tensions within the Arab world during the late 1980s. The Iran-Iraq War had just concluded, leaving both nations economically devastated and wary of further conflict. In this fragile environment, Kuwait, a small but immensely wealthy emirate, found itself accused by Iraq of overproducing oil, a practice that drove down prices and crippled the Iraqi economy. Saddam Hussein framed the dispute as an economic dispute that masked a deeper historical claim to Kuwaiti territory, viewing the emirate as a former Iraqi province.
Diplomatic Failure and the "Green Light"
The critical turning point that transitioned the crisis into open conflict occurred on July 25, 1990, when US Ambassador April Glaspie met with Saddam Hussein. In what became a infamous diplomatic exchange, Ambassador Glaspie stated that the US had no position on the Arab-Arab conflicts, a statement interpreted by the Iraqi leader as a "green light" for invasion. This ambiguous communication, combined with Soviet assurances that the US would not intervene, emboldened Saddam to launch the invasion just weeks later, directly answering the question of what started Desert Storm with a calculated risk that failed spectacularly.
Global Response and the Formation of Coalition Forces
The invasion triggered immediate and severe international backlash. The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 660, demanding Iraq's withdrawal, and economic sanctions were swiftly imposed. However, for Saddam, the economic cost was outweighed by the potential gain of controlling Kuwait's vast oil reserves. In response, President George H.W. Bush organized a coalition of 35 nations, the largest military alliance since World War II, to reverse the aggression. The mission, termed "Operation Desert Shield," was the defensive phase aimed at protecting Saudi Arabia and deterring further Iraqi expansion.
From Diplomacy to Warfare: The Launch of Desert Storm
As diplomatic efforts stalled throughout the autumn and winter of 1990, it became clear that Saddam had no intention of leaving Kuwait. The what started Desert Storm as a military campaign was the culmination of this failure. On January 17, 1991, Operation Desert Storm began with a massive aerial bombardment designed to dismantle Iraq's integrated air defense system and degrade command, control, and communication capabilities. This intense air campaign, led by US and coalition forces, lasted for five weeks and set the stage for the ground offensive that would ultimately liberate Kuwait.
Military Strategy and the Quick Victory
Operation Desert Storm showcased a new model of warfare, heavily reliant on precision-guided munitions, stealth technology, and sophisticated intelligence. The coalition forces executed a flanking maneuver through the Saudi desert, avoiding the heavily fortified Kuwaiti border defenses that Saddam had anticipated. This strategic surprise, combined with the overwhelming technological superiority of the coalition, led to a swift and decisive victory. The ground campaign lasted just 100 hours, resulting in the expulsion of Iraqi forces and the restoration of Kuwaiti sovereignty in February 1991.
