The Gulf War was the 1990-91 US-led coalition campaign that expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Iraq's invasion. Its combination of a sustained air campaign and a short ground offensive made it a lasting reference point for military planners, governments and markets assessing later Gulf conflicts.

The conflict also demonstrated the political value of a broad Coalition, Gulf basing and clearly stated war aims. Iraq fired Scud missiles during the campaign, while Coalition air power sought to reduce Iraq's ability to continue attacks. Later coverage has used that pattern cautiously when assessing reduced Iranian missile salvoes in 2026.

Its significance lies in the benchmark it created, not in a direct match with every later war. In April 2026, a large fall in Brent Crude was explicitly compared with the 1991 Gulf War. The comparison shows how the conflict remains part of the shared frame for judging military escalation and energy shocks.

Common Questions

Reference

Did the 1991 strikes destroy Iraq's nuclear programme?

No. UNSCOM inspections 1991-1998 revealed that bombing understated damage and substantial enriched uranium survived. The programme was dismantled by the inspection regime, not the strikes.Source: background

Who led the 1991 Gulf War coalition?

The United States led a 35-nation Coalition under UN Security Council Resolution 678. Combat forces were hosted by Saudi Arabia.Source: background

What did the 1991 Gulf War do to oil prices?

Brent Crude fell roughly 30% in the days after the Ceasefire, the largest short drop on record until the March 2026 Iran Ceasefire rumour produced a bigger one.Source: background

Was the Gulf War the last time the UN Security Council approved a war?

UNSCR 678, passed on 29 November 1990, is the last resolution in which the UN Security Council unanimously authorised offensive military force against a member state. Subsequent major operations including Kosovo (1999), Iraq (2003), and the 2026 Iran strikes all lacked equivalent Council authorisation.Source: Lowdown background

Why did the coalition not remove Saddam Hussein in 1991?

The UN mandate in UNSCR 678 authorised expelling Iraq from Kuwait, not Regime change. Coalition commander General Schwarzkopf and President George H.W. Bush concluded that advancing on Baghdad would have split the Coalition, particularly Arab members, and left the US occupying Iraq with no exit strategy.Source: Lowdown background

What started the Gulf War in 1990?

Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait on 2 August 1990, claiming Kuwait was historically Iraqi territory and had been stealing oil from the shared Rumaila field. The UN Security Council passed UNSCR 678 authorising force, and a US-led coalition of 35 nations launched Operation Desert Storm in January 1991.Source: Lowdown background

How is the 2025 Iran strike campaign like the 1991 Gulf War?

Both relied on heavy penetrators against hardened nuclear sites and a Coalition enforcing reconstruction denial. The differences are duration, regional footprint and the absence of a ground phase in 2025.Source: background

Source Material

The Gulf War, 1991 Gulf War