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76-623: When Iraq launched its invasion in 1990 on Kuwait , Iraqi Air Force jets dropped air-scattered mines, preventing operations on the runways. This led to the Kuwaiti Air Force Mirage F1s and A-4 Skyhawks having to land on a road nearby. After the invasion, the US, which was preparing for Operation Desert Storm, feared that al-Jaber housed Iraqi chemical weapons mainly because the Iraqi army had deployed 30 howitzers and used

152-613: A Control and Reporting Center. During the drawdown of forces from Iraq, the 332nd AEW provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, combat search and rescue, armed overwatch and close air support to one of the largest logistics movements since World War II. In support of the re-posture of U.S. forces, the wing continued to support U.S. Forces-Iraq after forward deploying to an undisclosed air base in Southwest Asia in November 2011 so Joint Base Balad could be returned to

228-623: A US$ 1 billion drop in Iraq's annual revenues, triggering an acute financial crisis in Baghdad". Iraq interpreted Kuwait's refusal to decrease its oil production as an act of aggression. The increasingly tense relations between Iraq and Kuwait were further aggravated when Iraq alleged that Kuwait was slant-drilling across the border into Iraq's Rumaila field . The dispute over the Rumaila field started in 1960 when an Arab League declaration marked

304-716: A day they had each been pumping", thus potentially settling differences over oil policy between Kuwait and Iraq. Iraq had a history of irredentist claims to Kuwait . After gaining independence in 1932, the Kingdom of Iraq immediately declared that the Sheikhdom of Kuwait was rightfully a territory of Iraq, claiming it had been part of an Iraqi territory until being created by the British. The Iraqi Republic under Abd al-Karim Qasim also held irredentist claims to Kuwait. The Saddam government also believed this and justified

380-673: A defense. However, by nightfall, Ali al-Salem Air Base had been overrun by Iraqi forces. Kuwaitis founded a local armed resistance movement following the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. Most of the Kuwaitis who were arrested, tortured, and executed during the occupation were civilians. The Kuwaiti resistance's casualty rate far exceeded that of the coalition military forces and Western hostages. At first, Iraqi forces did not use violent tactics. Iraqi soldiers instructed Kuwaitis to replace their Kuwaiti license plates with Iraqi ones, and also set up an extensive system of security checkpoints to patrol

456-821: A departure from traditional Air Force missions, the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group (732 AEG), provided command oversight and advocacy for up to 1,800 Air Force personnel who were tactically assigned to U.S. Army and Marine units throughout Iraq. Operating from Balad Air Base at its inception, six squadrons of the 732 AEG provided direct Joint and Coalition combat and combat support to and/or in lieu of US Army, Marine Corps and Iraqi Army and Police Forces at over 60 locations, including downtown Baghdad; Camp Speicher; Al Asad Air Base; Camp Anaconda (Balad Air Base); Camp Bucca; Camp Caldwell (Kirkush); Tallil Air Base; Mosul Air Base; Camp Rustamiyah; Baghdad International Airport; Green Zone; Kirkuk Air Base; Camp Hadithah; and Taji Air Base. Current units Former units At Joint Base Balad (JBB),

532-608: A hand in restoring legitimacy there to Kuwait and to getting the Iraqis out of Kuwait." Operation Desert Storm, which included U.S. forces, also aided the resistance movement out of its base in Taif , Saudi Arabia. The Kuwaiti government went into exile in Taif and supported the resistance movement from there. The exiled Kuwaiti government explicitly supported the resistance and commented on its strategies. Although Iraqi forces curtailed almost all forms of communication within and outside

608-625: A joint statement condemning Iraq. After a series of failed negotiations between major world powers and Iraq, the United States-led coalition forces launched a massive military assault on Iraq and Iraqi forces stationed in Kuwait in mid-January 1991. By 16 January, Allied aircraft were targeting several Iraqi military sites and the Iraqi Air Force was destroyed. Hostilities continued until late February and on 25 February, Kuwait

684-525: A platoon of Saladin armoured cars managed to repel an airborne assault by Iraqi special forces, but the Palace fell after a landing by Iraqi marines (Dasman Palace is located on the coast). The Kuwaiti National Guard , as well as additional Emiri Guards arrived, but the palace remained occupied, and Republican Guard tanks rolled into Kuwait City after several hours of heavy fighting. The Emir of Kuwait , Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had already fled into

760-614: A prominent female resistance leader, was seen as a martyr of the Iraqi invasion. During the occupation she helped people flee to safety, smuggled weapons and money into Kuwait as well as disks from the Ministry of Civil Information to safety, cared for many wounded by the war, and destroyed monitoring devices used by the Iraqi troops. She was captured and subsequently killed by Iraqi troops in January 1991. Other women staged street protests and carried signs with slogans like "Free Kuwait: Stop

836-515: A provisional organization on 12 August 2002 by ACC, with the 332nd AEG becoming the Wing's flying organization. A support organization was also activated as part of the 332 AEW, consisting of the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Group; 332nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group; 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group, and the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group. At its peak strength, the 332nd AEW consisted of over 8,000 personnel, including 1,800 Airmen of

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912-466: A reserve capacity. The base is home to the Kuwait Air Force's entire fighter/attack aircraft fleet. Two front-line (9 Squadron and 25 Squadron) and one training unit (61 Squadron) operate a fleet of McDonnell Douglas KAF-18C/D Hornets . The aircraft is a twin-engine , supersonic , all-weather, multirole combat jet, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft . Ahmad al-Jaber hosts

988-624: A transcript but Glaspie disputed its accuracy before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in March 1991. According to Richard E. Rubenstein , Glaspie was later asked by British journalists why she had said that, her response was "we didn't think he would go that far" meaning invade and annex the whole country. Although no follow-up question was asked, it can be inferred that what the U.S. government thought in July 1990

1064-567: A war with Iraq, the UNSC authorized the assembly of an American-led military coalition . After Iraq failed to meet the UNSC's deadline, the coalition pursued the directive to forcefully expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait by initiating the Gulf War aerial bombardment campaign on 17 January 1991. As the bombardment campaign continued over the next month, Iraq fired missiles at Israel ; the Iraqi government had hoped that an Israeli retaliation would prompt

1140-607: The Iraq–Kuwait border , though some Iraqi sources indicated that Saddam Hussein had already made the decision to attack Kuwait a few months before the actual invasion. Within two days of the invasion, most Kuwaiti troops had been overrun by the Iraqis and most Kuwaiti officials had retreated to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain . When the Iran–Iraq War broke out, Kuwait initially stayed neutral and also tried mediating between Iran and Iraq. In 1982, Kuwait along with other Arab states of

1216-516: The Kuwaiti Air Force , whose aircraft consisted mainly of Mirage F1s and Douglas (T)A-4KU Skyhawks . Despite months of Iraqi sabre-rattling, Kuwait did not have its forces on alert and was caught unaware. The first indication of the Iraqi ground advance was from a radar -equipped aerostat that detected an Iraqi armour column moving south. Kuwaiti air, ground, and naval forces resisted, but were vastly outnumbered. In central Kuwait,

1292-709: The Ottoman Empire . For this reason, its borders with the rest of Basra province were never clearly defined or mutually agreed upon. Following the proclamation of the puppet state, the 'Republic of Kuwait', the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council released a statement stating, "The free provisional Kuwaiti government has decided to appeal to kinsfolk in Iraq, led by the knight of Arabs and the leader of their march, President Field Marshal Saddam Hussein, to agree that their sons should return to their large family, that Kuwait should return to

1368-532: The Tawakalna ala-Allah Division ( mechanized infantry ) and 4th Nebuchadnezzar Division ( motorized infantry ) and special forces units equivalent to a full division. In support of these units, the Iraqi Army deployed a squadron of Mil Mi-25 helicopter gunships , several units of Mil Mi-8 and Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters, as well as a squadron of Bell 412 helicopters. The foremost mission of

1444-594: The United States Air Force 's 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (332 AEW), which moved to the base in May 2016. The 332 ARW provides a wide range combat capabilities including aerial-refueling , Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), space, combat search and rescue (CSAR), and precision strike, all in support of the military intervention against ISIL/ISIS (known by the US military as Operation Inherent Resolve ) and wider military operations in

1520-415: The 1980s, Kuwait's oil production had already been considerably above its mandatory OPEC quota and this had prevented a rise of crude oil prices. A lack of consensus among OPEC members undermined Iraq's efforts to end the oil glut and consequently prevented the recovery of its war-crippled economy. According to former Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz , "every US$ 1 drop in the price of a barrel of oil caused

1596-557: The 332 ELS Commander and 10 personnel were on one-year tours; all others (1190 personnel) rotated every 90 to 120 days. According to USA Today , on 22 October 2003, the US Ambassador to Kuwait, Richard Jones, announced that the United States was reducing its presence at Al-Jaber to fully reduce its forces at that location. USAF assets remaining in Kuwait are primarily stationed at Ali Al Salem Air Base . The U.S. side of

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1672-623: The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing consisted of the following major groups: Established in July 1947 under the United States Air Force's Wing /Base reorganization ( Hobson Plan ), with the 332nd Fighter Group becoming the operational component of the wing, controlling its flying resources. the 332nd Fighter Wing replaced the 447th Composite Group and 580th Air Service Group. The new wing participated in firepower demonstrations, gunnery training, and operational missions to maintain combat proficiency. The African-American segregated unit

1748-589: The 35th Armoured Brigade deployed approximately a battalion of Chieftain tanks , BMPs , and an artillery battery against the Iraqis and fought delaying actions near Al Jahra (see Battle of the Bridges ), west of Kuwait City. In the south, the 15th Armoured Brigade moved immediately to evacuate its forces to Saudi Arabia. Kuwait Air Force aircraft were scrambled , but approximately 20% were lost or captured. The remaining 80% were then evacuated to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain , some aircraft even taking off from

1824-640: The 732 AEG, provided operational oversight for Airmen tactically assigned to U.S. Army and Marine units at over 60 forward operating locations throughout Iraq. Employing A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, F-16 Fighting Falcons, HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters and HC-130 Hercules aircraft the 332nd AEW initially participated in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), playing a critical role in the defeat of the Taliban regime and later providing key air support for Afghanistan 's provisional government. After

1900-478: The Atrocities Now." Iraqi police searched the homes of those suspected of hiding foreigners or covertly smuggling money to the resistance movement. Money that was smuggled to the resistance was often used to bribe Iraqi soldiers to look the other way. Resistance tactics included car bombs and sniper attacks that caused a considerable number of Iraqi casualties. By August 1990, the resistance movement

1976-616: The Emir of Kuwait, Jaber Al-Sabah , he installed Ali Hassan al-Majid as the new governor of Kuwait. The Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait was unanimously condemned by all major world powers . Even countries traditionally considered to be close Iraqi allies, such as France and India , called for immediate withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Several countries, including the Soviet Union and China , placed arms embargoes on Iraq. NATO members were particularly critical of

2052-608: The International Committee of the Red Cross. Seven of those missing Kuwaitis are women and 24 are under the age of 16. Iraq has made little effort to address the hundreds of missing Kuwaitis, despite trying to mend diplomatic relations with Kuwait in other ways. Yahya F. Al-Sumait, Kuwait's housing minister, said in October 1990 that the resistance movement helped undermine the occupation's legitimacy and dispel

2128-594: The Iran–Iraq War, Kuwait functioned as Iraq's major port once Basra was shut down by the fighting. However, after the war ended, the friendly relations between the two neighbouring Arab countries turned sour for several economic and diplomatic reasons that culminated in an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. By the time the Iran–Iraq War ended, Iraq was not in a financial position to repay the US$ 14 billion it had borrowed from Kuwait to finance its war and requested that Kuwait forgive

2204-535: The Iraqi military had been devastated and Kuwaiti independence was restored. Though the true intent behind Iraq's decision to attack Kuwait is disputed, a variety of speculations have been made. One possible motive concerned Iraq's inability to repay the US$ 14 billion that it had borrowed from Kuwait during the Iran–Iraq War . Proponents of this theory point to Kuwait's surge in petroleum production, which kept Iraq's revenues down; Kuwait's oil production levels were above

2280-563: The Iraqi military turned to repression in order to maintain control over Kuwait. About 400,000 Kuwaiti citizens left the country after the invasion, and a network of safe houses was established for those who remained and joined the resistance. Pamphlets with anti-war slogans were printed and the resistance provided hiding places and false identification cards for Kuwaitis who were sought by the Iraqi secret police . Resistance cells held secret meetings at mosques. Kuwaiti women like Asrar al-Qabandi,

2356-538: The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait and by late 1990, the United States had issued an ultimatum to Iraq to withdraw its forces from Kuwait by 15 January 1991 or face war. On 3 August 1990, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 660 condemning the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and demanding that Iraq unconditionally withdraw all forces deployed in Kuwait. The United States and the Soviet Union issued

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2432-552: The Iraqi victory, Saddam Hussein installed Alaa Hussein Ali as the prime minister of the " Provisional Government of Free Kuwait " and Ali Hassan al-Majid as the de facto governor of Kuwait. The exiled Kuwaiti royal family and other former government officials began an international campaign to persuade other countries to pressure Iraq to vacate Kuwait. The UN Security Council passed 12 resolutions demanding immediate withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait, but to no avail. Following

2508-521: The Iraq–Kuwait border 3 kilometres (2 mi) north of the southernmost tip of the Rumaila field. During the Iran–Iraq War, Iraqi oil drilling operations in Rumaila declined while Kuwait's operations increased. In 1989, Iraq accused Kuwait of using "advanced drilling techniques" to exploit oil from its share of the Rumaila field. Iraq estimated that US$ 2.4 billion worth of Iraqi oil was "stolen" by Kuwait and demanded compensation. According to oil workers in

2584-456: The Kuwaiti hardened concrete hangars at al-Jaber for munitions storage. These howitzers, known as GHN-45 , were notable for being preferred for chemical munition delivery by the Iraqis. During the 1991 Gulf War , coalition aircraft attacked Ahmad al-Jaber Airbase several times due to the chemical munitions storage rumors. They also dropped anti-personnel mines to impede base operations. On

2660-642: The Kuwaiti Emir was a highly unpopular figure among the Kuwaiti populace. By overthrowing the Emir, Iraq claimed that it granted Kuwaitis greater economic and political freedom. Kuwait had been loosely under the authority of the Ottoman vilâyet of Basra , and although its ruling dynasty, the Al Sabah family, had concluded a protectorate agreement in 1899 that assigned responsibility for its foreign affairs to Britain, it did not make any attempt to secede from

2736-399: The Kuwaiti population. Within a few weeks of the invasion, however, Kuwaitis began participating in mass actions of nonviolent resistance. People stayed home from work and school en masse. Kuwaitis also began printing informational pamphlets about the invasion from their home computers and printers and distributed the pamphlets to neighbors and friends. After that wave of nonviolent resistance,

2812-399: The Kuwaiti resistance. Kuwaitis were kidnapped, their corpses later deposited in front of their family homes. The bodies of executed Kuwaiti resistance members showed evidence of different kinds of torture, including beating, electrical shock, and fingernail removal. Some 5,000 Palestinians living in Kuwait were arrested for their activities in support of the resistance, and Palestinian support

2888-785: The MQ-1 Predators and MC-12W Liberty aircraft provided tactical surveillance and reconnaissance within Iraq. Additionally, the unit operated the Air Force Theater Hospital and served as the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's heritage is tied to the famous 332nd Fighter Group led by the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. Its mission and traditions were carried out by

2964-986: The Middle East. A wide range of US Air Force aircraft have been deployed at Ahmad al-Jaber, including F-15E Strike Eagle , MQ-9A Reaper , and KC-135R Stratotanker as well as HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The United States Marines has also operated from the base, flying the MV-22B Osprey , EA-6B Prowler , AV-8B Harrier II and KC-130J Hercules . Notable units based at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base. Air Combat Command 28°56′06″N 47°47′31″E  /  28.934917°N 47.791972°E  / 28.934917; 47.791972 Invasion of Kuwait Iraqi victory [REDACTED] Iraqi Armed Forces [REDACTED] Kuwait Armed Forces Coalition intervention Naval operations Air campaign Liberation of Kuwait Post-ceasefire The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait began on 2 August 1990 and marked

3040-460: The People) was printed and circulated in secret. Informational pamphlets became one of the only sources of news from the outside world. Foreigners and Kuwaitis of different genders and classes participated in the resistance, breaking down Kuwait's traditional social barriers. In October 1990, Iraqi officials cracked down on the resistance by executing hundreds of people it suspected were involved in

3116-539: The Persian Gulf supported Iraq to curb the Iranian Revolutionary government. In 1982–1983, Kuwait began extending significant financial loans to Iraq. Kuwait's large-scale economic assistance to Iraq often triggered hostile Iranian actions against Kuwait. Iran repeatedly targeted Kuwaiti oil tankers in 1984 and fired weapons at Kuwaiti security personnel stationed on Bubiyan island in 1988. During

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3192-570: The Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members to end the 1980s oil glut . Chalabi argued that higher oil prices would help Iraq to pay back its US$ 60 billion debt by increasing its revenues. However, given its large downstream petroleum industry , Kuwait was less concerned about the prices of crude oil and in 1989, Kuwait requested OPEC to increase the country's total oil production ceiling by 50% to 1.35 million barrels (215,000 m ) per day. Throughout much of

3268-483: The Saudi Arabian desert. His younger half brother , Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah , was shot and killed by invading Iraqi forces as he attempted to defend Dasman Palace, after which his body was placed in front of a tank and run over, according to an Iraqi soldier who was present and deserted after the assault. Towards the end of the first day of the invasion, only pockets of resistance were left in

3344-607: The UNSC. After initially establishing the " Republic of Kuwait " as a puppet state, Iraq annexed the entire country on 28 August 1990; northern Kuwait became the Saddamiyat al-Mitla' District and was merged into the existing Basra Governorate , while southern Kuwait was carved out as the all-new Kuwait Governorate . By November 1990, the adoption of UNSC Resolution 678 officially issued Iraq an ultimatum to withdraw unconditionally by 15 January 1991 or else be removed by "all necessary means" from Kuwaiti territory. In anticipation of

3420-473: The air base On 1 December 1998, the 4406th Operations Group (Provisional) at Al-Jaber Air Base was inactivated and the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group activated. Sitting 75 miles south of the Iraqi border, the base has supported active duty United States Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter units, along with support individuals, rotated in and out. At Al-Jaber AB,

3496-534: The airmen at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. With the motto "Tuskegee Airmen...The Legend Continues," the wing pioneered modern warfare tactics using advanced weapons systems such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon , A-10 Thunderbolt II , and the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for close air support and traditional and non-traditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. In

3572-480: The area, Iraq's slant drilling claim was fabricated, as "oil flows easily from the Rumaila field without any need for these techniques." On 26 July 1990, only a few days before the Iraqi invasion, OPEC officials said that Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates had agreed to a proposal to limit their oil output to 1.5 million barrels (240,000 m ) per day, "down from the nearly 2 million barrels

3648-659: The base was re-opened around July 2010 in support of Operation New Dawn. The U.S. side of the base was re-opened in 2014 sometime before October. From 22 November 2014 four Panavia Tornados from 6º Stormo of the Italian Air Force deployed there for an unknown amount of time along with a Boeing KC-767 A from 14º Stormo . Between 15 October 2014 and 30 September 2015, the Royal Danish Air Force deployed seven General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcons with four being operational and three others in

3724-552: The beginning of the Gulf War . After defeating the State of Kuwait on 4 August 1990, Iraq went on to militarily occupy the country for the next seven months. The invasion was condemned internationally, and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted numerous resolutions urging Iraq to withdraw from Kuwaiti territory. The Iraqi military, however, continued to occupy Kuwait and defied all orders by

3800-464: The border into Kuwait, Kelly answered that it "is a hypothetical or a contingency, the kind of which I can't get into. Suffice it to say we would be concerned, but I cannot get into the realm of 'what if' answers." On 2 August 1990 at 2:00 am, local time, by Saddam Hussein's order Iraq launched an invasion of Kuwait with four elite Iraqi Republican Guard divisions (the 1st Hammurabi Armoured Division , 2nd al-Medinah al-Munawera Armoured Division ,

3876-432: The coalition's Muslim-majority states to rescind their support for the campaign against Iraq. However, no such retaliation took place, and the coalition began a ground invasion of Iraqi-occupied Kuwait and parts of Iraq on 23 February 1991. As Iraqi troops retreated from Kuwait, they set fire to over 700 Kuwaiti oil wells , but this strategy was ultimately unsuccessful in thwarting the coalition's advance. By 28 February 1991,

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3952-624: The country, the resistance movement managed to smuggle satellite phones across the Saudi Arabian border in order to establish a line of communication with the exiled Kuwaiti government in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Kuwaitis also printed informational pamphlets and distributed them to other citizens. This was especially important because the flow of information was severely restricted in Kuwait during the occupation; radio channels played transmissions from Baghdad and many Kuwaiti TV channels were shut down. A resistance newspaper titled Sumoud al-Sha'ab (Steadfastness of

4028-484: The country. By 3 August, the last military units were desperately fighting delaying actions at choke points and other defensible positions throughout the country until out of ammunition or overrun by Iraqi forces. Ali al-Salem Air Base of the Kuwaiti Air Force was the only base still unoccupied on 3 August, and Kuwaiti aircraft flew resupply missions from Saudi Arabia throughout the day in an effort to mount

4104-444: The debt. Iraq argued that the war had prevented a possible rise of Iranian hegemony over Kuwait. Kuwait's unwillingness to write off the debt strained the relationship between the two countries. In late 1989, several official meetings were held between Kuwaiti and Iraqi leaders, but did not result in an agreement. In 1988, Iraq's Oil Minister, Issam al-Chalabi, strove for a reduction in the crude oil production quota of Organization of

4180-489: The disagreement between Kuwait and Iraq, stating "we have no opinion on the Arab–Arab conflicts". Glaspie also indicated to Saddam Hussein that the United States did not intend "to start an economic war against Iraq". These statements may have caused Saddam to believe he had received a diplomatic green light from the United States to invade Kuwait. Saddam and Glaspie later disputed what was said in this meeting. Saddam published

4256-468: The events of the Iraq–Kuwait war, about half of the Kuwaiti population, including 400,000 Kuwaitis and several thousand foreign nationals, fled the country. The Indian government evacuated over 170,000 overseas Indians by flying almost 488 flights over 59 days. A 2005 study revealed that the Iraqi occupation had a long-term adverse impact on the health of the Kuwaiti populace. After Iraqi forces invaded and annexed Kuwait and Saddam Hussein deposed

4332-606: The first night of the war at around 4:00 AM, three A-6E TRAM Intruder from VA-115 Eagles ( Carrier Air Wing 5 ) based on the USS Midway attacked the airbase with six Mk.83 bombs each . Later that morning at 8:50 AM, 12 French Air Force SEPECAT Jaguars from EC 2/11 Vosges attacked Al-Jaber with no less than four aircraft sustaining damage (three were hit by IR-SAMs and one by small arms fire) although all returned safely. As of 2022, satellite images show aircraft Hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) still unrepaired throughout

4408-461: The great Iraq—the mother homeland—and to achieve complete merger unity between Kuwait and Iraq." On 25 July 1990, April Glaspie , the U.S. ambassador to Iraq , asked the Iraqi high command to explain the military preparations in progress, including the massing of Iraqi troops near the border. The American ambassador declared to her Iraqi interlocutor that Washington, "inspired by the friendship and not by confrontation, does not have an opinion" on

4484-418: The height of operations, the 332nd AEW contained nine groups—including four geographically separated groups at Ali AB , Sather AB , Al Asad AB , and Kirkuk AB —as well as numerous detachments and operating locations scattered throughout Iraq. The wing had as many as two F-16 fighter squadrons, a Predator UAV squadron, a C-130 squadron, a combat search and rescue squadron (HH-60s), a MC-12 Liberty squadron, and

4560-460: The helicopter units was to transport and support Iraqi commandos into Kuwait City, and subsequently to support the advance of ground troops. The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) had at least two squadrons of Sukhoi Su-22 , one of Su-25 , one of Mirage F1 and two of MiG-23 fighter-bombers . The main task of the IQAF was to establish air superiority through limited air strikes against two main air bases of

4636-678: The highways adjacent to the bases as the runways were overrun. While these aircraft were not used in support of the subsequent Gulf War, the "Free Kuwait Air Force" assisted Saudi Arabia in patrolling the southern border with Yemen , which was considered a threat by the Saudi Arabians because of Yemen–Iraq ties. Iraqi troops attacked Dasman Palace, the Royal Residence, resulting in the Battle of Dasman Palace . The Kuwaiti Emiri Guard, supported by local police and Chieftain tanks and

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4712-489: The idea that Iraq invaded to assist with a popular uprising against the Kuwaiti government. The movement also protected Americans, Britons and other foreigners trapped in Kuwait during the occupation. Some have cited the resistance movement as part of the foundation for a more robust civil society in Kuwait after the occupation. At the Al Qurain Martyrs Museum, Kuwait remembers its citizens slain during

4788-459: The initiation of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) the 332nd was moved to Tallil Air Base , Iraq. To better position airpower within the theater of operations, the 332nd AEW was moved to Balad AB , Iraq, in February 2004. In June 2008, the base was officially renamed Joint Base Balad . The new name was indicative of the joint nature of operations by all branches of service at the base. During

4864-535: The invasion by claiming that Kuwait had always been an integral part of Iraq and only became an independent state due to the interference of the British government . After signing the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913 , the British government planned to split Kuwait from the Ottoman territories into a separate sheikhdom , but this agreement was never ratified. The Iraqi government also argued that

4940-491: The mandatory quota that was specified by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which had consequently urged the country to moderate production amidst a sharp decrease in global oil prices. Iraq interpreted the Kuwaiti government's refusal to decrease oil production as an act of aggression against the Iraqi economy. In early 1990, Iraq accused Kuwait of slant drilling to steal Iraqi petroleum across

5016-518: The movement as well as conducting raids and searches of individual households. After the crackdown, the resistance began to target Iraqi military bases in order to reduce retaliation against Kuwaiti civilians. In October 1990, the Iraqi government opened the borders of Kuwait and allowed anyone to exit. This resulted in an exodus of both Kuwaitis and foreigners, which weakened the resistance movement. Another crackdown occurred in January and February 1991. Iraqi forces publicly executed suspected members of

5092-517: The personnel who kept the planes in the air. The 332 AEW conducted a number of missions. The F-16 aircraft were responsible for maintaining air supremacy in the skies over Iraq. Additionally, the A-10 and F-16 aircraft performed close air support missions as required. The C-130 unit provided required airlift within Iraq and to other US Central Command bases as necessary. The HH-60 Pave Hawks performed combat search and rescue missions. Finally,

5168-405: The resistance to Iraqi occupation. The families of those martyrs received material benefits from the Kuwaiti government such as cars, homes, and funding for trips to Mecca for the hajj. Since most accounts of the liberation of Kuwait focus on U.S.-led coalition forces, part of Kuwait's goal in memorializing the resistance is to emphasize Kuwaiti citizens' role in liberating their own country. After

5244-407: The retreat and over one thousand were repatriated by the Iraqi government, but hundreds remain missing. The fate of 605 Kuwaitis arrested during the occupation remained unknown until 2009, when the remains of 236 of them were identified. Initially, Iraq claimed it had recorded the arrests of only 126 of the 605 missing Kuwaitis. The names of 369 other missing Kuwaitis are stored in files maintained by

5320-455: The weeks after Iraqi forces withdrew, the Kuwaiti government cracked down on Palestinians suspected of sympathizing with the Saddam regime. Iraqi forces also arrested over two thousand Kuwaitis suspected of helping the resistance and imprisoned them in Iraq. Many of those arrests were made during the Iraqi retreat from Kuwait in February 1991. Hundreds escaped from prisons in southern Iraq after

5396-483: Was enough to cause Iraqi officials to threaten Palestinian leaders. Some Palestinians, however, supported Saddam's regime because of sympathies with the Ba'ath party's pugnacious anti-Israel stance. Palestinian members of the resistance sometimes disagreed with resistance tactics such as the boycott of government offices and commercial activity. The Kuwaiti resistance movement was suspicious of this Palestinian ambivalence, and in

5472-562: Was inactivated in July 1949 as a result of Executive Order 9981 . EO 9981 abolished racial discrimination in the United States Armed Forces. The 332nd's personnel and equipment were reassigned to other units. In August 2002, the Air Combat Command (ACC) 332nd Air Expeditionary Group at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base , Kuwait, was authorized to expand to a Wing. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing was activated as

5548-681: Was last inactivated on 8 May 2012, and most recently reactivated on 19 May 2015. The Wing's 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group (332 EOG), is the direct descendant organization of the World War II 332nd Fighter Group , the Tuskegee Airmen . The title Tuskegee Airmen refers to all who trained in the groundbreaking Army Air Forces African-American pilot training program at Moton Field and Tuskegee Army Airfield , Alabama between 1941 and 1945. It includes pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors and all

5624-419: Was officially liberated from Iraq. On 15 March 1991, the Emir of Kuwait returned to the country after spending more than 8 months in exile. During the Iraqi occupation, about 1,000 Kuwaiti civilians were killed and more than 300,000 residents fled the country. 332d Air Expeditionary Wing The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (332 AEW) is a Provisional Wing of Air Combat Command , currently active. It

5700-473: Was receiving support from the U.S. government in the form of intelligence, materials, and other types of covert assistance. Both the CIA and the U.S. Green Berets were involved. The U.S. government, however, would neither confirm nor deny its support of the resistance on record. On the topic of the resistance, President Bush stated, "... in a broad way I support the Kuwaiti underground. I support anybody that can add

5776-477: Was that Saddam Hussein was only interested in pressuring Kuwait into debt forgiveness and to lower oil production. In addition, only a few days before the invasion, the Assistant Secretary of State , John Hubert Kelly , told the U.S. House of Representatives in a public hearing that the United States had no treaty obligations to defend Kuwait. When asked how the U.S. would react if Iraq crossed

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