Intro
Explore the pivotal battles and strategic maneuvers of the Persian Gulf War through 5 key maps, detailing troop movements, military operations, and territorial changes. Discover the significance of the Kuwait Theater, Iraqi defenses, and coalition forces advances, revealing the wars complex geography and historical context.
The Persian Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm, was a conflict that took place in 1990-1991, sparked by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The war was a complex and multifaceted conflict, involving multiple countries and military strategies. Maps played a crucial role in understanding the war's geography, military movements, and key events. Here, we will explore five key maps that help illustrate the Persian Gulf War.
Map 1: The Middle East Region
The first map shows the Middle East region, highlighting the countries involved in the conflict, including Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. This map helps to understand the geographical context of the war and the relationships between the countries involved.
Key Features:
- Iraq's borders with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iran
- The location of key cities, such as Baghdad, Kuwait City, and Riyadh
- The Persian Gulf and its strategic importance
The Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait
On August 2, 1990, Iraq launched a surprise invasion of Kuwait, which led to a rapid escalation of the conflict. The second map shows the invasion route and the key locations involved in the invasion.
Map 2: The Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait
This map highlights the invasion route and the key locations involved in the invasion, including:
- The border crossing between Iraq and Kuwait
- The location of Kuwait City and the Emir's palace
- The key roads and highways used by the Iraqi military
The Coalition Response
In response to the Iraqi invasion, a coalition of countries led by the United States launched a military campaign to liberate Kuwait. The third map shows the coalition's military strategy and key locations involved in the response.
Map 3: The Coalition Response
This map highlights the coalition's military strategy and key locations involved in the response, including:
- The location of coalition military bases in Saudi Arabia and other countries
- The key roads and highways used by the coalition military
- The location of Iraqi military targets, such as airfields and command centers
The Ground War
On February 24, 1991, the coalition launched a ground war to liberate Kuwait. The fourth map shows the key locations involved in the ground war and the Iraqi military's defensive positions.
Map 4: The Ground War
This map highlights the key locations involved in the ground war and the Iraqi military's defensive positions, including:
- The location of the Iraqi military's defensive lines, such as the "Saddam Line"
- The key roads and highways used by the coalition military
- The location of Kuwait City and the Emir's palace
The Aftermath
The Persian Gulf War ended on February 28, 1991, with the liberation of Kuwait. The fifth map shows the aftermath of the war and the key locations involved in the conflict's resolution.
Map 5: The Aftermath
This map highlights the key locations involved in the conflict's resolution, including:
- The location of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between Iraq and Kuwait
- The key roads and highways used by the coalition military
- The location of the Iraqi military's remaining strongholds
Gallery of Persian Gulf War Maps
Persian Gulf War Maps
What was the main cause of the Persian Gulf War?
+The main cause of the Persian Gulf War was Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990.
Which countries were involved in the coalition?
+The coalition involved a total of 34 countries, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Kingdom.
What was the outcome of the war?
+The war ended on February 28, 1991, with the liberation of Kuwait and the defeat of the Iraqi military.
In conclusion, the five key maps of the Persian Gulf War provide a comprehensive understanding of the conflict's geography, military movements, and key events. These maps help to illustrate the complexity of the war and the importance of cartography in understanding military conflicts.