Kuwait-Iraq Gulf War That Was Caused by Oil Trade Competition

JAKARTA - Most conflicts in the Middle East are caused by economic issues, not ideological or political. In the First Gulf War between Iraq and Kuwait, for example. Their relationship began to heat up when Kuwait lowered their oil prices.  Meanwhile, Iraq demanded compensation from Kuwait for the fall in the black gold price. From there, the war happened.

As quoted in the New York Times, Kuwait's oil price reduction policy significantly reduced Iraqi income. Iraqi President, Saddam Husein, demanded Kuwait to pay billions of US dollars to Iraq as compensation for the loss.  But Kuwait refused.

Their relationship became more and more strained as Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing their oil. It was reported that Kuwait's oil drilling had penetrated the Iraqi oil fields in the Rumala region.

Kuwait denied. They accused this as an Iraqi tactic to legitimize the military invasion of Kuwait. And sure enough, on August 2nd, 1990, Saddam Hussein launched a military attack against Kuwait.

Iraq attack

As quoted from History, Iraqi forces began to invade Kuwait at 2 AM. In just a matter of days, the Kuwaiti forces disintegrated.

Within hours, Kuwait was paralyzed under the Iraqi invasion. The country was soon changed to become Iraq's 19th province.

According to BBC records, Iraq deployed more than 100,000 troops in this war. They consisted of four elite divisions of the Iraq Republic Guards along with special forces units and reinforced by 700 tanks. The Kuwaiti troops couldn't move because they only had about 20,000 troops.

The Kuwaiti troops who managed to survive fled to Saudi Arabia. The Kuwaiti leader, Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah and his family, also government leaders, also fled.

In this war, civilians were also victims. The total civilians who were killed were around 200 people.  Meanwhile, various riots and acts of looting broke out at various points.

Conditions in Kuwait were dire. They couldn't use the communication network both, domestically and abroad. This condition trapped thousands of Kuwaitis and foreigners.

After conquering Kuwait, Iraq controlled 20 percent of the world's oil reserves and controlled substantial coastlines in the Persian Gulf.  Saddam Hussein built up his occupation force in Kuwait for about 300,000 soldiers.

The N resistance

The UN Security Council didn't stay silent. They unanimously condemned the invasion of Iraq and demanded them to withdraw from there.

But Iraq didn't budge. So, on August 6, the Security Council imposed sanctions in the form of a worldwide ban on trade with Iraq.

On November 29, the UN Security Council passed a resolution of authorizing the use of physical force against Iraq if they didn't withdraw their troops by January 15, 1991. Hussein once again rejected the demand.

This forces the United Nations, especially the United States, to deploy around 700,000 allied troops. They gathered in the Middle East to enforce deadlines. Operation Desert Storm was held on January 16, 1991.

The first fighter jets from the US, UK, and Saudi Arabia stormed Iraqi forces. Throughout the night, planes from the US-led military coalition unceasingly bombarded Iraqi forces.

Iraq initially survived. But over time, their energy ran out. By February 28, 1991, their military strength was completely depleted, so Saddam agreed to a ceasefire. The war then ended and Iraq left Kuwait.