Gulf War
The Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991), codenamed Operation Desert Shield (2 August 1990 – 17 January 1991) for operations leading to the buildup of troops and defence of Saudi Arabia and Operation Desert Storm. This was a war waged by 750,000 coalition forces including 540,000 US personnel from 34 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq' s invasion. Iraq leader Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of neighboring Kuwait. Hussein defied united nations Security Council demands to withdraw from Kuwait.
The war is also known under other names, such as the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, Gulf War I, Kuwait War, and First Iraq War
The Gulf War began with an extensive aerial bombing campaign on 17 January 1991. The Coalition effort known as Operation Desert Storm flew over 100,000 sorties, dropping 88,500 tons of bombs, and widely destroying military and civilian infrastructure.
After 42 days of attacks by allied coalition US president George H.W Bush declared a cease-fire on February 28th 1991, ending the Persian Gulf War.
According to the peace terms that Hussein accepted Iraq would recognise Kuwait’s sovereignty and get rid of all its weapons of mass destruction. The United Nation Security Council also imposed sanctions. These included all trade and financial resources being banned with the exception of medicine and in humanitarian circumstances food.
Iraq no fly zones were put in place after the Gulf War to protect the Kurds in northern Iraq and Shiite Muslims in the south. US and British aircraft continued to patrol skies in the years that followed.
Over all an estimated 8,000-10,000 Iraq forces were killed in comparison to only 300 coalition troupes. Over 1,000 Kuwait civilian losses and 3,664 Iraqi civilian losses.
Although initially considered a success for the International Coalition, simmering conflict in the troubled region led to a second Gulf War known as the Iraq war that began in 2003. Operation desert storm officially ended on 30th November 1995.
Australia's role In The Gulf War
Australia was a member of the international coalition for the 1991 Gulf war, while Australian forces did not see combat they did play a significant role in enforcing sanctions put in place against Iraq following the Invasion of Kuwait as well as other support contributions to operation desert storm.
Australia's contribution centred on a navel task group which formed part of the multi-national fleet in the Persian Gulf under operation deamask. Medical teams were deployed aboard a US hospital ship while a navel clearance diving team took part in demining Kuwait's port facilities at the end of the war. The total number of personal deployed between August 1990 and September 1991 was 1,800. After the conflict royal Australian Navy War Ships continued to be deployed to the Persian Gulf to enforce sanctions against Iraq.
Some of the ships who took part were:
The Royal Australian Air Force Squadrons provided a shuttle service between Australia and the Persian Gulf. RAAF intelligence and photo interprets were also posted to Saudi Arabia.
The Australian army and air force provided personnel to operation provide comfort, delivery humanitarian aid to kurds living in the exclusion zone in northern Iraq.
No deaths occurred among Australian Personnel.
The war is also known under other names, such as the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, Gulf War I, Kuwait War, and First Iraq War
The Gulf War began with an extensive aerial bombing campaign on 17 January 1991. The Coalition effort known as Operation Desert Storm flew over 100,000 sorties, dropping 88,500 tons of bombs, and widely destroying military and civilian infrastructure.
After 42 days of attacks by allied coalition US president George H.W Bush declared a cease-fire on February 28th 1991, ending the Persian Gulf War.
According to the peace terms that Hussein accepted Iraq would recognise Kuwait’s sovereignty and get rid of all its weapons of mass destruction. The United Nation Security Council also imposed sanctions. These included all trade and financial resources being banned with the exception of medicine and in humanitarian circumstances food.
Iraq no fly zones were put in place after the Gulf War to protect the Kurds in northern Iraq and Shiite Muslims in the south. US and British aircraft continued to patrol skies in the years that followed.
Over all an estimated 8,000-10,000 Iraq forces were killed in comparison to only 300 coalition troupes. Over 1,000 Kuwait civilian losses and 3,664 Iraqi civilian losses.
Although initially considered a success for the International Coalition, simmering conflict in the troubled region led to a second Gulf War known as the Iraq war that began in 2003. Operation desert storm officially ended on 30th November 1995.
Australia's role In The Gulf War
Australia was a member of the international coalition for the 1991 Gulf war, while Australian forces did not see combat they did play a significant role in enforcing sanctions put in place against Iraq following the Invasion of Kuwait as well as other support contributions to operation desert storm.
Australia's contribution centred on a navel task group which formed part of the multi-national fleet in the Persian Gulf under operation deamask. Medical teams were deployed aboard a US hospital ship while a navel clearance diving team took part in demining Kuwait's port facilities at the end of the war. The total number of personal deployed between August 1990 and September 1991 was 1,800. After the conflict royal Australian Navy War Ships continued to be deployed to the Persian Gulf to enforce sanctions against Iraq.
Some of the ships who took part were:
- HMAS Adelaide
- HMAS Darwin
- HMAS Brisbane
- HMAS Sydney
- HMAS Westralia
The Royal Australian Air Force Squadrons provided a shuttle service between Australia and the Persian Gulf. RAAF intelligence and photo interprets were also posted to Saudi Arabia.
The Australian army and air force provided personnel to operation provide comfort, delivery humanitarian aid to kurds living in the exclusion zone in northern Iraq.
No deaths occurred among Australian Personnel.