Coalition of the Gulf War

Coalition of the Gulf War
1990–1991
Flag of the United Nations
Coalition countries   Iraq and Iraqi-occupied Kuwait and Khafji
Type	Military coalition
Membership	Primary countries:  United States  United Kingdom  France  Saudi Arabia  Egypt Kuwait (in exile) Other contributors:  Argentina  Australia  Bahrain  Bangladesh  Belgium  Canada Czechoslovakia  Denmark  Germany  Greece  Honduras  Hungary  Italy  Japan  Luxembourg  Morocco  Netherlands  New Zealand  Niger  Norway  Oman  Pakistan  Philippines  Poland  Portugal  Qatar  Romania  Senegal  Sierra Leone  Singapore  South Korea  Spain  Sweden  Syria  Turkey  United Arab Emirates
Historical era	Gulf War
• Iraqi invasion of Kuwait	2–4 August 1990
• Adoption of UNSC Resolution 678	29 November 1990
• Adoption of U.S. Congress Resolution Against Iraq	14 January 1991
• Beginning of Gulf War air campaign	17 January 1991
• Beginning of Liberation of Kuwait campaign	24 February 1991
• Adoption of UNSC Resolution 686	2 March 1991

On 29 November 1990, the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 authorized the assembly of a multinational military coalition to fight against Iraq in the Gulf War. The coalition's purpose was to liberate Iraqi-occupied Kuwait by "all necessary means" if Iraq did not withdraw by 15 January 1991. Iraq failed to relinquish control over Kuwait by the deadline specified in Resolution 678, leading to the commencement of combat operations with the Gulf War aerial bombardment campaign on 17 January 1991. At this time, the coalition consisted of 42 countries and was spearheaded by the United States: the central command was led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom; the marine command was led by the United States; the Joint Forces East Command was led by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Morocco, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Poland, and Czechoslovakia; and the Joint Forces North Command was led by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Italy, Australia, Japan, and Turkey. On 23 February 1991, the aerial bombardment campaign came to an end as the coalition began a large-scale ground offensive (the Liberation of Kuwait campaign) into Iraqi-occupied Kuwait and parts of Iraq. The Iraqi military was devastated in the fighting, and Kuwait was declared completely free of occupying Iraqi troops on 28 February 1991.