PERSIAN/ARABIAN GULF NEWSFILE

Chronology of security-related events in the Persian/Arabian Gulf since 1990.

1990

August 1990:  Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.  American commitment of forces to Saudi Arabia.

1991

January-February 1991:  Gulf War.  Iraqi forces driven from Kuwait.
February -April 1991:  Popular uprisings in north and south of Iraq, put down by forces loyal to government of Saddam Hussein.  U.N. approves "protected zone" enforced by U.S., Great Britain and France (using Turkish airbases) in Kurdish areas of northern Iraq.

1992

August 1992:  U.S. establishes "no-fly" zone in southern Iraq, enforced by U.S. (using Saudi airbases)

1993

January 1993:  U.S. cruise missile attacks on Iraqi nuclear facility
June 1993:  U.S. cruise missile attacks on headquarters of Iraqi intelligence services in Baghdad, in retaliation of alleged Iraqi plot to assassinate former Pres. Bush on his visit to Kuwait.

1994

October 1994:  U.S. deploys 29,000 troops to Kuwait after Iraqi troops mass near the Kuwaiti border.

1995

April 1995:  U.N. Security Council approves resolution 986, "oil for food" resolution permitting Iraq a limited amount of oil sales, under U.N. supervision, to finance purchase of food and humanitarian supplies.
August 1995:  Defection of Saddam's son-in-law Hussein Kamal to Jordan, revealing information on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction programs.
November 1995:  Bombing of U.S. military training mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

1996

June 1996:  Bombing of Khobar Towers in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.  19 American servicemen killed.
August-September 1996:  Iraqi incursion into "protected area" in Kurdish northern Iraq, in conjunction with one of the major Kurdish parties (KDP).  U.S.-supported "Iraqi National Congress" forced to flee from headquarters established in the "protected area."  U.S. retaliates with cruise missile attacks in southern Iraq.
November 1996:  Baghdad lifts its objection to implementation of "oil for food" program.

1997

August 1997:  Election of Muhammad Khatami as president of Iran.
September-October 1997:  Iraqi efforts to obstruct U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq.  Saddam Hussein expels U.S. members of UNSCOM from Iraq.
December 1997:  Islamic Conference Organization meeting in Iran.  Saudi delegation headed by Crown Prince Abdallah, meets with Iranian leadership.  Highest-ranking Saudi-Iranian talks since Iranian Revolution.

1998

January-February 1998:  Iraq prevents inspections of "presidential sites" by UNSCOM.  U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan negotiates an agreement with Saddam Hussein allowing inspections, as U.S. threatens military strikes.
March 1998:  Expansion of the U.N. "oil for food" program in Iraq.
August 1998:   Iraq announces end of cooperation with UNSCOM on inspections.
October-November 1998:  Iraq closes down UNSCOM monitoring facilities; U.S. orders airstrike but pulls planes back at last minute as Iraq agrees to return of UNSCOM
December 1998:  U.S. air strikes on Iraq after UNSCOM head Richard Butler reports on Iraqi non-cooperation.  UNSCOM personnel withdrawn from Iraq.

1999

February 1999:  Assassination of Ayatallah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr and two of his sons outside Baghdad.  Reports of riots in Shi'i communities in Iraq.
March 1999:  Saudi-Iranian agreement of oil production cuts sets stage for larger agreement with other OPEC and non-OPEC producers; price of oil begins to rise.
July 1999:  Student riots in Teheran and other cities, demanding liberalization of regime.
December 1999:  U.N. Security Council votes establishment of new monitoring agency for Iraq, prospect of lifting sanctions if Iraq agrees to permit new agency to operate.  France, Russia and China abstain.  Iraq refuses cooperation.