Final answer:
On January 16, 1991, three Air Force MH-53J Pave Low helicopters led nine Army Apaches in the first strike of Operation Desert Storm, after Iraq failed to meet the UN deadline to leave Kuwait.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first strike mission of Operation Desert Storm was led by three Air Force Special Operations MH-53J Pave Low helicopters on January 16, 1991. These helicopters were vital in leading nine Army Apache helicopters to successfully initiate combat operations against Iraqi forces. The operation was part of a larger coalition force authorized by a UN Security Council resolution, which responded after Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, failed to comply with the deadline to withdraw from Kuwait.
Operation Desert Storm represented a swift and decisive military campaign, which, after continuous air strikes and a ground offensive that began on February 24, 1991, resulted in the surrender of Iraqi forces and their agreement to leave Kuwait within four days. The operation not only liberated Kuwait but also marked a significant geopolitical moment in history, with President George H. W. Bush announcing the emergence of a potential New World Order following the overwhelming defeat of Iraq.