The Persian Gulf War, which lasted from 1990 to 1991, included nearly 20 countries including Canada, the United States, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, Argentina, Italy, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Czech and Slovak Federative Republic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay On August 2, 1990, the leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, ordered the invasion of Kuwait, his intention was to acquire the country's large oil reserves and also eliminate the large debt that Iraq owed of Kuwait. On August 3, the United Nations Security Council asked Iraq to withdraw its forces from Kuwait but the Iraqi government refused. On August 6, the UN called for a global ban on trade with Iraq. Iraq's invasion of Kuwait endangered other nearby nations with oil reserves, such as Saudi Arabia. At the time Saudi Arabia was the largest producer and exporter of oil, this encouraged NATO-backed Western European countries to bring troops and defense assets to Saudi Arabia. Egypt and many other Arab nations have joined NATO forces and the anti-Iraq movement. Iraq was also building its military forces in Kuwait. This was known as Operation Desert Storm. On November 29, the UN authorized the use of military force by any nation if Iraqi forces did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991. By January 1991, allied (NATO) troop numbers had skyrocketed to to reach the mass of 700,000, the largest of which was the United States with 540,000 men. Saddam stubbornly continued to withdraw his troops from Kuwait. The fighting officially began on January 16, 1991, with the US air campaign. The massive bombing of Iraqi forces destroyed their air defenses. The allies then focused on destroying Iraqi communications networks, government buildings, oil refineries, munitions factories and even important access bridges. In February, Allied forces sent troops overland into Kuwait and southern Iraq. The allies broke through the defenses and destroyed valuable military equipment. Operation Desert Saber was an Allied-led ground offensive that began in northeastern Saudi Arabia, then Kuwait, then pushed into southern Iraq. By February 24, three days after the start of the offensive, the Allied forces had already recaptured the entire city of Kuwait. The main armored division drove 200 kilometers west of Kuwait and attacked Iraq's armored reserves. By February 28, US President George Bush declared a ceasefire, but the Iraqi resistance was in chaos. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay For many years to come the United States and other nations followed up with aerial inspections and patrols over Iraqi territory. On March 20, 2003, after the horrendous attacks of September 11, George W. Bush blames Iraq for this tragedy and launches another offensive against Iraqi forces known as the Iraq War..