September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
Silhouetted by the flames of hundreds of burning oil wells, the shattered remnants of the Iraqi army made their way north along Highway 80 toward Basra. Vehicles of all kinds from tanks to technicals clogged the road, forcing swarms of Iraqi soldiers to weave their way through the traffic on foot. Demoralized, hungry, and exhausted, they had barely escaped Kuwait with their lives. Above them hovered an American AC-130, ready to engage.
The American AC-130 rapidly began its assault, releasing a barrage of fire upon the retreating Iraqi forces. As the cacophony of gunfire echoed across the desolate landscape, many Iraqi soldiers realized that their escape from Kuwait was far from over. This was just the beginning of their arduous journey back to safety.
On August 2nd, 1990, Iraqi forces acting under the direction of President Saddam Hussein crossed the border into Kuwait. The reason behind this aggressive move was multifaceted. The primary catalyst for the invasion was Iraq’s financial predicament, worsened by the prolonged Iran-Iraq War.
Kuwait’s refusal to forgive Iraq’s debt combined with its oil policies, which were driving down global oil prices, provoked Saddam. A historical territorial claim also added to the list of justifications for Iraq’s invasion.
Saddam mobilized 100,000 of his best troops to invade Kuwait, which caught the country off guard, leading to the collapse of Kuwaiti resistance in just 12 hours. This rapid success emboldened Saddam to declare Kuwait as the 19th province of Iraq. However, despite Iraq’s military prowess, the invasion was seen as a significant threat by global powers.
Realizing that the international community would react, Saddam stationed 600,000 troops along Iraq’s southern border. Meanwhile, an American-led coalition began assembling nearly 1 million personnel on the other side of the Saudi border under Operation Desert Shield. Saddam’s strategy aimed to protract the conflict, hoping to turn it into another Vietnam, thereby swaying American public opinion against the war.
From a military standpoint, the Iraqis miscalculated the advancement in technology since the Vietnam War. Their antiquated Soviet-made tanks, notably the T-72, were no match for the superior American M1 Abrams tanks. Additionally, they failed to grasp the significance of long-range weapons, optics, and electronics, assuming combat would primarily be close-quarters.
As the tension built, there was a mass exodus from densely populated areas in Iraq. Still, many residents lingered in Baghdad even as late as January 16, 1991. Vendors continued to peddle oranges and dates in the less crowded bazaars, while shops that had once overflowed with spoils of war now stood shuttered and locked.
That night marked the commencement of a massive air campaign called Operation Desert Storm. The coalition launched an all-out bombardment targeting both tactical and strategic locations across Iraq. Radar stations, infrastructure, and electricity were all subjected to relentless onslaught.
Surrounded by explosions, Baghdad’s residents braced themselves for what would be the most trying period of their lives.
On February 24, 1991, the coalition initiated the ground phase of Operation Desert Storm, a two-pronged assault into Kuwait and southeastern Iraq. The Iraqi opposition, overwhelmed and outmaneuvered, quickly folded. By February 26, the coalition had broken 26 of the 43 Iraqi divisions in Kuwait.
As they retreated, the Iraqis executed a contingency plan to destroy as much infrastructure as possible. Over 600 oil wells were torched, resulting in fires that burned for months. The coalition’s rapid advance cut off a significant portion of the Iraqi retreat, turning Highway 80 into the infamous “Highway of Death.”
By February 27, only a handful of Saddam’s elite Republican Guard divisions stood between the coalition and complete victory. Despite their reputation, they were no match for the coalition’s advanced and fast-moving armored columns.
President Bush announced a ceasefire on February 28, though sporadic fighting continued for another week. Iraq finally decided to sue for peace on March 3, 1991.
The war did not dethrone Saddam. Fear of appearing as aggressors and the U.N.’s objective of merely driving Iraq out of Kuwait left Saddam’s regime intact. Economic sanctions were imposed, and the U.S. refrained from intervening in subsequent uprisings in Iraq.
To mark his regime’s survival, Saddam commissioned the Blood Quran, allegedly written with his own blood. This act symbolized his ironclad resolve despite crippling economic sanctions and extensive infrastructural damage.
Despite facing numerous internal and external challenges, Saddam’s regime persisted until the 2003 invasion. His rule, marked by authoritarian control and aggressive policies, cemented his controversial place in history.
In conclusion, the Persian Gulf War from the Iraqi perspective is a tale of initial triumph and subsequent turmoil. The invasion of Kuwait, the ensuing coalition intervention, and the eventual retreat and devastation left a lasting impact not only on Iraq but the entire Middle East. The war’s legacy continues to resonate through the region’s modern history, reminding us of the complex interplay of politics, power, and the enduring human spirit.
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September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
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