<P> The war is also known under other names, such as the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, Gulf War I, Kuwait War, First Iraq War or Iraq War, before the term "Iraq War" became identified instead with the 2003 Iraq War . The Iraqi Army's occupation of Kuwait that began 2 August 1990 was met with international condemnation and brought immediate economic sanctions against Iraq by members of the UN Security Council . Together with the UK's prime minister Margaret Thatcher--who had resisted the invasion by Argentina of the Falkland Islands a decade earlier--George Bush deployed US forces into Saudi Arabia, and urged other countries to send their own forces to the scene . An array of nations joined the coalition, forming the largest military alliance since World War II . The great majority of the coalition's military forces were from the US, with Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Egypt as leading contributors, in that order . Kuwait and Saudi Arabia paid around US $32 billion of the US $60 billion cost . </P> <P> The war was marked by the introduction of live news broadcasts from the front lines of the battle, principally by the US network CNN . The war has also earned the nickname Video Game War after the daily broadcast of images from cameras on board US bombers during Operation Desert Storm . </P> <P> The initial conflict to expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait began with an aerial and naval bombardment on 17 January 1991, continuing for five weeks . This was followed by a ground assault on 24 February . This was a decisive victory for the coalition forces, who liberated Kuwait and advanced into Iraqi territory . The coalition ceased its advance and declared a ceasefire 100 hours after the ground campaign started . Aerial and ground combat was confined to Iraq, Kuwait, and areas on Saudi Arabia's border . Iraq launched Scud missiles against coalition military targets in Saudi Arabia and against Israel . </P> <P> Throughout the Cold War, Iraq had been an ally of the Soviet Union, and there was a history of friction between it and the United States . The US was concerned with Iraq's position on Israeli--Palestinian politics . The US also disliked Iraqi support for many Arab and Palestinian militant groups such as Abu Nidal, which led to Iraq's inclusion on the developing US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism on 29 December 1979 . The US remained officially neutral after Iraq's invasion of Iran in 1980, which became the Iran--Iraq War, although it provided resources, political support, and some "non-military" aircraft to Iraq . In March 1982, Iran began a successful counteroffensive (Operation Undeniable Victory), and the US increased its support for Iraq to prevent Iran from forcing a surrender . In a US bid to open full diplomatic relations with Iraq, the country was removed from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism . Ostensibly, this was because of improvement in the regime's record, although former US Assistant Defense Secretary Noel Koch later stated: "No one had any doubts about (the Iraqis') continued involvement in terrorism...The real reason was to help them succeed in the war against Iran ." With Iraq's newfound success in the war, and the Iranian rebuff of a peace offer in July, arms sales to Iraq reached a record spike in 1982 . When Iraqi President Saddam Hussein expelled Abu Nidal to Syria at the US's request in November 1983, the Reagan administration sent Donald Rumsfeld to meet Saddam as a special envoy and to cultivate ties . By the time the ceasefire with Iran was signed in August 1988, Iraq was heavily debt - ridden and tensions within society were rising . Most of its debt was owed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait . Iraq pressured both nations to forgive the debts, but they refused . </P>

What was the reason for operation desert storm