Bible Time

Allied invasion of Kuwait in 1991, the Land War

When Noah's rains stopped, so did the western bombing. The west did not losses due to friendly fire. The land war lasted about 100 hours. The next surprise? Oil well fires and Iraq's army surrendering in droves.

Background

The theoretical date for this even was Thursday, February 28, 1991. This was the last day of 40 days of rain begun in the month before. There was quite a run up to this date.

On, or about, February 22, 1991, the Iraqi army began igniting Kuwaiti oil wells. This had been what the war was over, and now that it was clear the Iraqis would be leaving they were trying to deny Kuwait of their oil. These were literally bottomless pits and a feature of Revelation's account of the same war, a feature we look at in another page.

On Saturday, February 23, 1991, United States President Bush announces that the Ground War has begun.

On Sunday, February 24, 1991, to the great surprise of many in the west, large numbers of Iraqi troops start surrendering.

On Monday, February 25, 1991, an Iraqi Scud missile killed 28 United States troops in a barracks in Saudi Arabia. Baghdad ordered a withdrawal from Kuwait.

On Tuesday, February 26, 1991, Kuwaiti resistance claims control of Kuwait City.

On Wednesday, February 27, 1991, Bush announces a cease fire, that "Kuwait is liberated."

On Thursday, February 28, 1991, Iraq announces a cease fire. This part of the war was over.

Events would now wind down slowly. The oil well fires would not be completely out until November 6, 1991. The United Nations would formally end the war on April 3, 1991. UNIKOM would formally take over the northern part of Iraq from the United States on April 24, 1991. The United Nations would take over Kurdish refugee camps on May 13. The Iraqi government would reclaim control of southern Iraq on May 30, 1991.

Confirming what many had feared, 12 Kg. of highly enriched Uranium would be found by inspectors on May 22, 1991.

Noah's great storm was over. God had promised not to destroy the world in a flood again, he had used the account of the flood to outline a war. Now the remaining events would linger for another few months in the headlines.

The next date suggested by the prophetic time line was the end of 150 days from the flood, a date set for June 19, 1991, the United Nations adopted sanctions, a story we look at next.