The Gulf War began on 2nd August 1990 when Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait. Although Kuwait soldiers fought back they were quickly overrun. Almost immediately economic sanctions were placed on Iraq by members of the United Nations.
Forces were mobilised by the United Kingdom, United States and Canada and other countries were also urged to mobilise their troops to remove Iraqi troops from Kuwait. The mission was to be known as Operation Desert Storm.
On 16th January 1991 a United Nations force comprising troops from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, France, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States of America began fighting the Iraquis.
The first attacks were air assaults which began on 17th January. On 24th February 1991 the first coalition ground assault began when troops entered Iraq.
By February 26th Iraqi troops were withdrawing from Kuwait setting fire to oil fields as they left. On February 28th 1991 a ceasefire saw the end of the war.
