Middle East 649
Morocco, 640 Turkey, 651 Egypt, 652 Syria, 670 Saudi Arabia, 690 Kuwait, 692 Bah-
rain, 694 Qatar, 696 United Arab Emirates, 698 Oman, 770 Pakistan, 771 Bangladesh,
900 Australia
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait, and an allied coalition largely spear-
headed by the United States was formed to expel Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi troops from
Kuwait. This began the Gulf War. There are two important sources for this dispute.
First, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia took an active role in financing Saddam Hussein’s
war with neighboring Iran through the 1980s. When Kuwait and Saudi Arabia began
pressing Hussein for repayment of the loans, Hussein responded with belligerence
and threats to Kuwaiti and Saudi sovereignty. Kuwait was particularly vulnerable.
Disputes over oil drilling mounted between both sides and Iraq increasingly felt that
Kuwait was independent from Iraq only as an artifact of British imperialism. Hus-
sein’s Iraqi forces invaded on August 2, 1990. This forced the Saudi government
to plead with the United States for intervention. The United States responded with
Operation Desert Shield to deter further Iraqi aggression. Shortly thereafter, the
United States decided to expel the Iraqi military from Kuwait. The United States put
together a far-reaching coalition of states to assist in the effort. Hussein was given
an ultimatum via a UN resolution that authorized the use of force against Iraq should
Iraqi troops still occupy after January 15, 1991. Hussein refused and war followed.
The efforts of the coalitions were more than effective, resulting in a ceasefire on Feb-
ruary 28 and an Iraqi surrender on March 3. UN Resolution 687, passed on April 3,
formalized an end to the conflict.
Coding changes: Dropped from the dispute: 663 Jordan. Start Date changed from
May 28, 1990. End Date changed from March 3, 1991.
MID#3982
Dispute Number: 3982
Date(s): May 29, 1991 to August 29, 1991
Participants: 645 Iraq/690 Kuwait
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In August 1991, Kuwait reported that Iraqi forces violated the ceasefire
agreement when they made several raids into Kuwait to recover stockpiles left fol-
lowing the withdrawal of forces. Both Kuwait and Iraq set up stations and forces
along the border. An Iraqi patrol fired on two Kuwaiti police cars across the border,
and Kuwait filed a complaint with the Security Council. Iraq charged that the Kuwaiti
forces were in Iraqi territory. Iraq then conducted a military mission to salvage muni-
tion on Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island. This was reported as the most serious military move
by Iraq since its invasion of Kuwait in February. Kuwait forces drove Iraqi forces
from Bubiyan Island on August 29, and the Kuwaiti coast guard captured dozens of
Iraqi soldiers.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 7, 1991.