The Gulf War was the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and the subsequent liberation of Kuwait by the Coalition Forces. The conflict is known by numerous alternative names that reflect the historical, political, and journalistic views of different groups and regions. Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan Al-Majid, Hussein Kamel Strength 660,000 ~545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also Persian...

The War

The following names have been used to describe the conflict itself:

• Gulf War and Persian Gulf War are the most common terms for the conflict used within the Western countries. These names have been used by the overwhelming majority of popular historians and journalists in the United States. In a manner reminiscent of Union Army practices of the American Civil War, the name of the war has been associated with the closest, largest body of water. The major problem with these terms is that the usage is ambiguous, having now been applied to at least three conflicts: see Gulf War (disambiguation). With no consensus of naming, various publications have attempted to refine the name. Some variants include, War in the Gulf, 1990 Persian Gulf War, Gulf War (1990–1991), Gulf War Sr., First Persian Gulf War and Second Persian Gulf War (to distinguish it from the Iran–Iraq war).

• Liberation of Kuwait (al-Tahrir al-Kuwait) is the term used by Kuwait and most of the Arab state members of the Coalition Forces including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

• War of Kuwait and Second Gulf War appear to be the names commonly used in France [1].

• Mother of Battles ('Uum al-M'aarak) is the term used by Iraq.

• Other names sometimes used include Iraq-Kuwait conflict and UN-Iraq conflict.

The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Abraham Lincoln† Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis Robert E. Lee Strength 2,213,363 1,064,200 Casualties KIA: 110,100 Total dead: 359,500 Wounded: 275,200 KIA: 94,000 Total dead: 258,000 Wounded: 137,000+  The American... There have been three conflicts in the late 20th century and early 21st century called Persian Gulf War or The Gulf War, all of which refer to conflicts in the Persian Gulf region: Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) (aka First Persian Gulf War). ...

Operational Names

Most of the Coalition Force countries used various names for operational phases of the war. These are sometimes used as the name of the conflict, especially Desert Storm:

• Operation Desert Shield was the US operational name for the US buildup of forces and the defense of Saudi Arabia from August 2, 1990 to January 16, 1991.
• Operation Desert Storm was the US name of the airland conflict from January 17, 1991 through April 11, 1991.
• Opération Daguet was the French name for the conflict.
• Operation Granby was UK name for the operations and conflict.
• Operation Desert Farewell was the name given to the return of US units and equipment to the United States in 1991 after the liberation of Kuwait.
• Operation Desert Calm appears to be an alternative name for Desert Farewell.
• Operation Desert Sabre was the US name for the airland offensive against the Iraqi Army in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations (the "100-hour war") from February 24–28, 1991, in itself, part of Operation Desert Storm.
• Operation Desert Sword was an early name for Operation Desert Sabre.

In addition, various phases of each operation may have a unique operational name. August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... AirLand doctrine was first adopted by the US Army in 1982 as Field Manual 100-5, and has been the driving military doctrine of the last 20 years. ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The British named their particaption in the 1991 defense of Saudi Arabia (know to the Americans as Operation Desert Shield) Operation Granby. ... In the first Gulf War, Operation Desert Farewell was the name given to the return of American units and equipment to the United States in 1991 after the liberation of Kuwait. ... AirLand doctrine was first adopted by the US Army in 1982 as Field Manual 100-5, and has been the driving military doctrine of the last 20 years. ...

Campaigns

The US divided the conflict into three major campaigns:

• Defense of Saudi Arabia for the period August 2, 1990 through January 16, 1991.
• Liberation and Defense of Kuwait for the period January 17, 1991 through April 11, 1991.
• Southwest Asia Cease-Fire for the period April 12, 1991 through November 30, 1995, including Operation Provide Comfort.