Varying speculations have been made regarding the true intents behind the Iraqi invasion, most notably including Iraq's inability to repay the debt of more than US$14 billion that it had borrowed from Kuwait to finance its military efforts during the Iran–Iraq War. Initially, Iraq ran the occupied territory under a puppet government known as the ' Republic of Kuwait' before proceeding with an outright annexation in which Kuwaiti sovereign territory was split, with the ' Saddamiyat al-Mitla' District' being carved out of the country's northern portion and the ' Kuwait Governorate' covering the rest. On 2 August 1990, Iraq invaded neighboring Kuwait, and had fully occupied the country within two days. The coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991 and Operation Desert Storm, which began with the aerial bombing campaign against Iraq on 17 January 1991 and came to a close with the American-led Liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991. The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 39-country military coalition led by the United States. Establishment of a demilitarized zone and construction of a separation barrier along the Iraq–Kuwait borderģ1 tanks destroyed/disabled Ĩ50+ other armored vehicles destroyed/capturedġ10 aircraft destroyed ġ37 aircraft flown to Iran to escape destruction ġ9 ships sunk, 6 damaged ħ5 killed in Israel and Saudi Arabia, 309 injured.State of Kuwait resumes self-governance over all Kuwaiti sovereign territory.Beginning of Iraqi anti-government uprisings.Ba'athist government retains power in Iraq.UNSC Resolution 689 establishes the United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission to monitor the international border between Iraq and Kuwait.UNSC Resolution 687 establishes ceasefire terms beginning of the Iraq disarmament crisis.Sanctions against Iraq imposed by the United Nations Security Council.Iraq launches missiles against Saudi Arabian targets.Destruction of Kuwaiti and Iraqi infrastructure.Expulsion of Iraqi military forces from Kuwait.

Tank battles