Cease-fire Day in the Persian Gulf War

By SGT H.Jäger , 7 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    On February 28, 1991, coalition forces and Iraq entered a cease-fire agreement that brought active combat in the Persian Gulf War to a close. The announcement followed a swift and decisive military campaign led by the United States and a multinational coalition to liberate Kuwait after months of conflict in the Middle East.

    The war began after Iraqi forces, under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in August 1990, prompting widespread international condemnation. In response, a coalition of nations assembled under authorization from the United Nations, first deploying troops in Operation Desert Shield to defend Saudi Arabia and later launching Operation Desert Storm in January 1991 to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

    After weeks of intensive air strikes and a rapid ground offensive that lasted approximately 100 hours, coalition troops successfully forced Iraqi forces to retreat. With Kuwait liberated and major military objectives achieved, U.S. President George H. W. Bush announced a suspension of offensive combat operations on February 28, effectively establishing a cease-fire.

    The cease-fire agreement required Iraq to comply with several conditions, including recognizing Kuwait’s sovereignty, releasing prisoners of war, and accepting future inspections related to weapons programs. While large-scale fighting ended, negotiations and enforcement measures continued in the months that followed, shaping regional politics for years to come.

    The conclusion of combat marked one of the most decisive coalition victories of the late 20th century and demonstrated the effectiveness of multinational cooperation and modern military technology. However, the war also left lasting consequences, including regional instability, humanitarian concerns, and ongoing tensions between Iraq and the international community.

    Today, February 28 is remembered as the day active fighting ceased in the Persian Gulf War. A moment that signaled both the end of a brief but intense conflict and the beginning of a new geopolitical era in the Middle East. It stands as a reminder of the costs of war and the importance of diplomacy in maintaining international peace and security.

    And still, on this day that should signal peace, we are witness to an attack on the middle East. US forces and Israeli forces have launched strikes against Iran. We can only hope that this War will be over as quickly as Operation Desert Storm. We can only hope that civilian and US/Israeli casualties will stay low. We can only hope that in 20 year's we can write articles about this and say that this attack was the right thing.

    Do with this info what you like, but remember this day as a day of hope, peace and freedom. As a day where the West showed our values as to not let a dictator do what he wants. To show that everyone has a right to freedom, wherever they are in the world.