How to Win a War in 100 Hours: Lessons from the Gulf War
The Gulf War of 1991 was one of the most decisive and successful military campaigns in modern history. In less than four days, a US-led coalition of 34 nations defeated the Iraqi army, which was the fourth largest in the world at the time, and liberated Kuwait from Saddam Hussein’s occupation. The war showcased the power of precision air strikes, stealth technology, and effects-based warfare, which changed the way wars are fought and won. In this blog post, we will explore how the coalition achieved such a stunning victory in 100 hours, and what lessons we can learn from it.
The Strategic Context
The Gulf War was triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, with the apparent aim of acquiring its large oil reserves, canceling a large debt owed to Kuwait, and expanding Iraqi regional power. The invasion was condemned by the international community, and the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 660, demanding Iraq’s immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait. When Iraq refused to comply, the Security Council authorized the use of “all necessary means” to restore Kuwait’s sovereignty and security.
The US, as the leader of the coalition, had four strategic objectives for the war, articulated by President George H.W. Bush: to free the western hostages held by Iraq; to defend Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states from Iraqi aggression; to liberate Kuwait; and to destroy Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and its capability to threaten its neighbors. To achieve these objectives, the coalition devised a two-phase military strategy: Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
Operation Desert Shield: The Buildup
Operation Desert Shield was the defensive phase of the war, which lasted from August 7, 1990, to January 16, 1991. Its main purpose was to deter Iraq from attacking Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, and to prepare for the offensive phase of the war. The coalition deployed over 700,000 troops, mostly from the US, the UK, France, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, to Saudi Arabia and other neighboring countries. The coalition also built up a massive air, naval, and ground force, equipped with the latest warfighting technology, such as stealth aircraft, precision-guided munitions, cruise missiles, satellite communications, and night-vision devices.
The coalition faced several challenges during this phase, such as the harsh desert environment, the logistical difficulties of moving and sustaining such a large force, the political and cultural differences among the coalition partners, and the threat of Iraqi chemical and biological weapons and Scud missiles. The coalition also had to deal with the Iraqi propaganda and psychological warfare, which tried to undermine the coalition’s morale and legitimacy. The coalition countered these challenges by conducting extensive training and rehearsals, establishing a unified command structure, enhancing its intelligence and surveillance capabilities, and launching a public diplomacy campaign to win the support of the international and regional public opinion.
Operation Desert Storm: The Air Campaign
Operation Desert Storm was the offensive phase of the war, which began on January 17, 1991, with a massive air campaign against Iraq. The air campaign was based on the concept of effects-based warfare, which aimed to achieve strategic and operational effects by targeting the enemy’s centers of gravity, such as command and control, leadership, infrastructure, and military forces. The air campaign was divided into four phases: air supremacy, strategic bombing, preparation for the ground offensive, and the air-land battle.
The first phase, air supremacy, lasted from January 17 to January 19, and focused on destroying Iraq’s air defenses, airfields, and aircraft. The coalition used stealth aircraft, such as the F-117 Nighthawk and the B-2 Spirit, to penetrate Iraq’s radar coverage and strike high-value targets, such as the Iraqi air force headquarters, the H-3 airfield, and the Baghdad nuclear research center. The coalition also used electronic warfare, such as jamming and deception, to suppress and confuse the Iraqi air defense network. The coalition achieved air supremacy within the first day of the war, and suffered minimal losses.
The second phase, strategic bombing, lasted from January 19 to February 13, and aimed to paralyze Iraq’s political, economic, and military system. The coalition targeted Iraq’s leadership, communications, transportation, oil, and power facilities, as well as its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile capabilities. The coalition used precision-guided munitions, such as laser-guided bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles, to strike these targets with high accuracy and low collateral damage. The coalition also used psychological operations, such as leaflets and radio broadcasts, to demoralize the Iraqi population and military. The strategic bombing phase severely degraded Iraq’s ability and will to fight, and isolated its forces in Kuwait and southern Iraq.
The third phase, preparation for the ground offensive, lasted from February 13 to February 23, and focused on weakening Iraq’s ground forces in Kuwait and southern Iraq. The coalition targeted Iraq’s armored and mechanized units, artillery, bunkers, and fortifications, as well as its supply lines and logistics. A variety of aircraft was used, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F/A-18 Hornet, to deliver a mix of munitions, such as cluster bombs, anti-tank missiles, and napalm, against the Iraqi ground targets. Special operations forces was also used, such as the SAS, the Delta Force, and the Navy SEALs, to conduct raids, reconnaissance, and sabotage missions behind the enemy lines. The preparation phase inflicted heavy casualties and damage on the Iraqi ground forces, and reduced their morale and cohesion.
The fourth phase, the air-land battle, lasted from February 24 to February 28, and coincided with the launch of the ground offensive. The coalition used its air power to support its ground forces, by providing close air support, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses, and battlefield air superiority. They also used air power to exploit the opportunities created by the ground maneuver, by striking the fleeing or exposed Iraqi forces, and by cutting off their escape routes. The air-land battle phase enabled the coalition to achieve a rapid and decisive victory over the Iraqi ground forces, and to liberate Kuwait.
Operation Desert Storm: The Ground Offensive
The final and shortest phase of the war, lasting from February 24 to February 28, 1991, was the ground offensive. It followed the concept of the “left hook”, a two-pronged attack on the Iraqi forces in Kuwait and southern Iraq. The main effort was a sweeping flanking maneuver by US, French, and Arab forces from Saudi Arabia into western Iraq. The secondary effort was a direct frontal assault by US, Saudi, and Kuwaiti forces along the Kuwaiti-Saudi border. The objectives were to encircle and destroy the Iraqi forces, to cut off their lines of communication and retreat, and to liberate Kuwait. The progression was not without its challenges during the ground offensive, such as the Iraqi minefields, the burning oil wells, the environmental damage, and the possibility of Iraqi chemical and biological attacks. These challenges were overcame by using superior mobility, firepower, and intelligence, as well as close coordination with the air forces.
The ground offensive was a complete success for the coalition, and a disaster for Iraq. Progress was rapid and the Iraqi armed forces put up very little resistance, many of whom surrendered or fled. The coalition captured thousands of prisoners of war, and destroyed or captured hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery pieces, and other equipment. Kuwait was liberated and the legitimate government was restored. The allies suffered only 148 killed and 467 wounded in action, while the Iraqi casualties were estimated at 20,000 to 35,000 killed and 75,000 wounded.
The End of the War and the Aftermath
The war ended on February 28, 1991, when President Bush declared a ceasefire, after consulting with his coalition partners and the UN Security Council. The ceasefire was based on the following conditions: Iraq had to accept all the relevant UN resolutions; Iraq had to withdraw all its forces from Kuwait; Iraq had to release all the prisoners of war and the Kuwaiti detainees; Iraq had to respect Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; Iraq had to destroy its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles; and Iraq had to accept international monitoring and verification of its compliance.
The war had significant political, economic, and military implications for the region and the world. The war affirmed the US’s role as the global leader and the guarantor of the international order.
