History of the Conflict

Iraq and Kuwait have a long-standing border dispute that has caused tension between the two countries for decades; Iraq has accused Kuwait of drawing oil from fields on the Iraqi side of the border. Following the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988; also called the First Persian Gulf War), Iraq was heavily in debt and desperate to increase its oil revenue. At this time, the price of oil declined, and Iraq accused Kuwait of deliberately manipulating world oil markets to Iraq's disadvantage. Experts now believe that President Saddam Hussein of Iraq acted against Kuwait in the hope of annexing the country and its oil fields, thereby making up Iraq's shortfall in oil revenues. ...