On August 2, 1990, Iraq invades neighboring Kuwait and overthrows the Kuwaiti government, replacing with a pro-Iraqi puppet government. Multiple factors have been cited as causes for the invasion, including economic issues in Iraq due to the massive debt sustained during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s and increased Kuwaiti crude oil production reducing the price for oil (and thus reducing Iraq's revenue needed to pay its debt), allegations that Kuwait was using slant drilling to reach across the border and access Iraqi oil fields, and Iraqi claims that Kuwait was historically and Iraqi province.

The invasion was met by international condemnation, including by nations which had been allies of or on friendly terms with Iraq previously. The United States and the United Nations issued ultimatum in response to the invasion, demanding the withdrawal of Iraq forces from Kuwait or face military action. When the Iraqi government ignored the demands, an international coalition led by the United States amassed military forces in neighboring Saudi Arabia and from there launched an invasion of Iraq with the purpose of liberating Kuwaiti. With a ground campaign lasting ~100 hours, the war ended on February 28, 1991, with Iraqi forces driven from Kuwait.