What is Desert Storm?

You may wonder that it is a natural phenomenon that occurs in dessert, but the meaning is entirely different. Read on to know what is Desert Storm and why this term is used.

It is a codeword used by American military to refer the First Gulf War which lasted between 2nd August 1990 and 28 February 1991. It was an American led military conflict which was then termed by people as Desert Storm. This term is used to refer collectively to this war even after the fact that it involved an alliance of total 35 countries each of which came up with a code word to the war. This war conflict is also known as the Persian Gulf War or Gulf War. It was named as Persian Gulf War later to differentiate the American-led Iraq War which held in 2003.

The direct affect caused in Desert Storm was the invasion of Iraqi in Kuwait during 1990. The UN responded to this by forming economic sanctions whereas; President George H.W. Bush in U.S. deployed troops to Saudi Arabia as an operation called Desert Shield. The aim of Desert Shield was to offer military force which then could form stability to the area. Their effect was to either invade Iraq or repulse its troops from Kuwait. The air phase of this term Desert Storm was started on 17 January 1991 where various strategic bombs were dropped to invade the ground starting from 24 February 1991. By 28 February, the end had been affirmed to the hostilities where at one point it clearly declared that the rapid response to Iraqi ivasion into Kuwait is a success to the operation. The coordinated support of troops from all across the world was a success.

The Operation Desert Storm revealed 358 coalition casualties in the course where the estimation about the number of Iraqi deaths was more complication to receive. Claims were between 30,000 and 100,000 Iraqi civilians and troops. A decision was made to remove dictator Saddam Hussein from his power in Iraq instead of taking over the country. Rather a democratic government would establish in the country. Due to this decision made, the U.S. had to face some criticism. 12 years later, Hussein was overthrown from his position.

There are some controversies linked with Operation Desert Storm. On the other hand, the use of depleted uranium grounded controversies  where the coalition forces were criticized for becoming a source of environmental pollution in Iraq. Some claimed that these would create birth defects and other significant health problems later among Iraqi people.