Final answer:
The Gulf War, known as Operation Desert Storm, was a conflict where a US-led coalition fought to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991. The conflict began after Iraq invaded Kuwait, and the coalition forces quickly defeated the Iraqi military, restoring Kuwait's sovereignty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm, was a conflict that occurred in January and February 1991, involving a coalition of thirty nations led by the United States against Iraqi forces. This operation was a response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait, aiming to reinstate Kuwait's sovereignty and secure the stability of global oil markets. The coalition, with authorization from a United Nations Security Council resolution, initiated attacks on January 16, 1991, marking the beginning of a military campaign that would end with Iraq's defeat and retreat from Kuwait.
President George H.W. Bush was instrumental in forging the international coalition and received UN support for the military action. The rapid success of coalition ground forces, commencing February 24, and the overwhelming technological and tactical superiority showcased by the US-led military resulted in Iraq's surrender and withdrawal within four days, marking a decisive victory and the end of combat operations, although the conflict's geopolitical repercussions would last much longer.
The invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein's Iraq was precipitated by accusations of slant drilling and was seen as a move to take control of valuable oil assets, something that the international community, especially the United States, could not overlook given its strategic interests in the Persian Gulf region. The liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi control was not only seen as a triumph for the coalition but also as a pivotal moment in the post-Cold War era, with reference to the potential emergence of a New World Order.