The full archive. Every era. Every entry.
On February 27, 1991, the 1st Armored Division engaged the Republican Guard's Medina Division on a ridge in the Iraqi desert. The battle lasted 40 minutes and epitomized the technological gulf between American and Iraqi armor.
Apr 20, 2026
From August 1990 to January 1991, Operation Desert Shield assembled the largest international military coalition since World War II. Forty-one nations provided military support, logistics, or financing. The diplomatic effort was as crucial as the military one.
Apr 20, 2026
The Gulf War was the first major conflict where satellite imagery and signals intelligence were seamlessly integrated with military operations. Precision-guided munitions depended on real-time intelligence. The intelligence revolution transformed modern warfare.
Apr 20, 2026
The Gulf War demonstrated precision warfare, network-centric operations, and technological dominance in ways that transformed military doctrine. But the confidence it bred would lead to catastrophic overconfidence in subsequent conflicts, particularly Iraq 2003.
Apr 20, 2026
As Iraqi forces retreated from Kuwait, they set more than 600 oil wells on fire. The resulting environmental devastation lasted months. International firefighting efforts fought to contain the disaster. The ecological impact was unprecedented in modern warfare.
Apr 20, 2026
As Iraqi forces retreated from Kuwait on February 26-27, 1991, coalition aircraft attacked the retreating columns on the Basra-Kuwait City highway. Thousands of Iraqi soldiers were killed. The images haunted the post-war period.
Apr 20, 2026
On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces poured across the border into Kuwait in a swift military operation that would reshape global geopolitics and trigger the largest international military coalition since World War II.
Apr 20, 2026
As the air war turned catastrophic for Iraq, Iraqi pilots made an extraordinary decision: rather than fight the coalition, they flew their aircraft to Iran. Over 122 Iraqi jets, including advanced Soviet fighters, crossed the border and were impounded by Iran.
Apr 20, 2026
Over 70,000 Iraqi soldiers surrendered to coalition forces during the Gulf War. Coalition forces captured only a handful of Iraqis and lost very few soldiers to capture. The contrast between Iraqi surrenders and coalition losses illuminated the war's fundamental imbalance.
Apr 20, 2026
The centerpiece of Operation Desert Storm was the secret repositioning of 200,000 American and coalition troops far to the west of the Iraqi lines. This 'Left Hook' envelopment, planned in secret and executed with stunning coordination, would destroy the Iraqi army in the desert.
Apr 20, 2026
The U.S. Navy's role in Desert Storm extended beyond carrier air support. The battleships USS Missouri and USS Wisconsin conducted shore bombardment. Naval aircraft suppressed Iraqi air defenses. Mines posed a constant threat to coalition shipping.
Apr 20, 2026
While the main war dominated headlines, U.S. Special Operations Forces conducted a secret campaign in western Iraq. Armed helicopters hunted Scud missiles. Delta Force operatives pursued Iraqi targets. This war went largely unreported until after the conflict ended.
Apr 20, 2026
After the Gulf War ended, Saddam ordered his remaining forces to suppress Kurdish and Shiite uprisings. Millions of Kurds fled toward Turkey. International pressure forced the establishment of a no-fly zone and humanitarian operation to protect them.
Apr 20, 2026
The Republican Guard was Saddam's most trusted military force. Despite massive losses during the Gulf War, much of the Republican Guard survived the conflict. Their survival would have profound implications for Iraq's post-war future.
Apr 20, 2026
Iraq launched 88 Scud missiles during the war, targeting Saudi Arabia and Israel. The U.S. Patriot missile system was hailed as the answer, though reality was more complex. The missile war became a propaganda battle as much as a military one.
Apr 20, 2026
The original coalition plan called for a northern front in Iraq, with Turkish forces attacking from Turkey. Turkey refused, citing economic costs and concerns about Kurdish nationalism. This decision shaped the entire war's tactical approach.
Apr 20, 2026
As the 100-hour ground war concluded, the Iraqi military was shattered and Baghdad lay within striking distance. Yet the Bush administration ordered a ceasefire. The decision to stop, rather than overthrow Saddam, was controversial then and catastrophic in hindsight.
Apr 20, 2026
