Iraqi soldiers surrendered by the thousands. In a mere 100 hours, the Iraqi army was crushed. During the beginnings of the war, Navy ships launched salvos of Tomahawk cruise missiles against military targets in Iraq to “soften” the battlefield for ground troops.Īfter the 38-day air campaign, ground troops began sweeping through Kuwait in blitzkrieg fashion. The subsequent bombardment by air assets and the effects of the economic embargo decimated Iraq's military infrastructure and morale, degraded communications and supplies, and devastated weapons arsenals. Hussein's repeated rejection to abandon the invasion and leave Kuwait led to the commencement of combat operations on 18 January 1991. More than 21,000 naval reservists were called to active duty in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Marines began arriving in Saudi Arabia, their supplies and equipment were in close proximity due to low-key military ties with friendly Arab states. United Nations trade sanctions were immediately imposed against Iraq to sever the country’s economy. Bush ordered the deployment of troops and equipment to defend Saudi Arabia on 7 August, more than 240 ships carrying about 18.3 million pounds of equipment and supplies was facilitated. Eisenhower (CVN-69) sped from the Indian Ocean and eastern Mediterranean to take up positions in the Gulf of Oman and Red Sea, at the ready to commence sustained combat operations. Battle groups led by USS Independence (CV-62) and USS Dwight D. The ships of Joint Task Force Middle East were immediately placed on alert.
and allied air and ground forces.Īt the time of the invasion, the Navy was already on station in the region. Navy provided sea control and maritime superiority, which paved the way for the introduction of U.S.
When the Iraqi army invaded Kuwait on 2 August 1990, the United States deployed a major joint force as part of a multination coalition to stop President Saddam Hussein’s brutal aggression.
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