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A car on February 7, 1991 in Samawa, south of Baghdad, after an allied bombing raid. AFP
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Saddam Hussein (L) with Iraqi troops in occupied Kuwait in 1990-1991. AFP
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Iraqi soldiers in Kuwait City on August 3, 1990. AFP
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Sheikh Fahd Al Ahmed al-Sabah (C), brother of Emir of Kuwait, during the 1982 World Cup in Valladolid, Spain. He was killed by Iraqi troops during the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. AFP
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Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah (top), Emir of Kuwait, disembarks on March 14, 1991 upon his arrival at Kuwait after seven months in exile during the Iraqi occupation of his country. AFP
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US President George Bush, the architect of the liberation of Kuwait, in Washington, on November 30, 1990. AFP
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US Secretary of State James Baker (5th R) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz in Geneva January 9, 1991. The meeting failed to convince Saddam to leave Kuwait, setting the scene for the Gulf War. Reuters
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Iraqi prisoners of war in Saudi Arabian after giving themselves up to US troops in 1991. AP
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Allied Forces Commander Norman Schwarzkopf (L) meeting with Iraqi General Sultan Hashim (2nd R) in Safwan in Iraq on March 3, 1991, to set conditions for Iraq's surrender in the Gulf War. Reuters
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US General Norman Schwarzkopf (C), in Riyadh on February 10, 1991. AFP
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US General Norman Schwarzkopf (L), Allied Gulf War Commander, and General Sultan Hashim of Iraq (R) after talks to discuss Iraqi surrender terms in the Gulf War, in Safwan in south Iraq, on March 3, 1991. Reuters
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Iraqi soldiers carrying surrender flags on February 25, 1991 in Kuwait City. AFP
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Shiite rebels on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on March 27, 1991. Saddam crushed the rebellion, although he was defeated in the Gulf War. AFP
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A photo dated February 16, 1991 showing damage near a church caused by an allied bombing raid in Baghdad. AFP
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A view dated March 8, 1991 of damage in downtown Baghdad from an Allied air strike or missiles raid. AFP
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A car on February 7, 1991 in Samawa, south of Baghdad, after an allied bombing raid. AFP
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Saddam Hussein (L) with Iraqi troops in occupied Kuwait in 1990-1991. AFP
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Iraqi soldiers in Kuwait City on August 3, 1990. AFP
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Sheikh Fahd Al Ahmed al-Sabah (C), brother of Emir of Kuwait, during the 1982 World Cup in Valladolid, Spain. He was killed by Iraqi troops during the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. AFP
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Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah (top), Emir of Kuwait, disembarks on March 14, 1991 upon his arrival at Kuwait after seven months in exile during the Iraqi occupation of his country. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HWSGXFWFYDTIQT7J5TIRDWGAMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=81dc88c15d17892a09f66fdffb5b28218d29eb8c13a3c17ddb8c17718e53b7c9&width=400&height=225)
US President George Bush, the architect of the liberation of Kuwait, in Washington, on November 30, 1990. AFP
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US Secretary of State James Baker (5th R) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz in Geneva January 9, 1991. The meeting failed to convince Saddam to leave Kuwait, setting the scene for the Gulf War. Reuters
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Iraqi prisoners of war in Saudi Arabian after giving themselves up to US troops in 1991. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XK6YO4DJ54OCXOJV2TZVANRPHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1a3607eff3c6768cc7c01f2eb18d7f2fb082476b9b9b4d4f7f7208d7cdce2910&width=400&height=225)
Allied Forces Commander Norman Schwarzkopf (L) meeting with Iraqi General Sultan Hashim (2nd R) in Safwan in Iraq on March 3, 1991, to set conditions for Iraq's surrender in the Gulf War. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3ARCJBQOS54IHHQ3A5TAXKBSY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6b896a7f215ac86ad162ae8e6283c7b138c1515a5a25d1dbd662d591bfbc426&width=400&height=225)
US General Norman Schwarzkopf (C), in Riyadh on February 10, 1991. AFP
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US General Norman Schwarzkopf (L), Allied Gulf War Commander, and General Sultan Hashim of Iraq (R) after talks to discuss Iraqi surrender terms in the Gulf War, in Safwan in south Iraq, on March 3, 1991. Reuters
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Iraqi soldiers carrying surrender flags on February 25, 1991 in Kuwait City. AFP
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Shiite rebels on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on March 27, 1991. Saddam crushed the rebellion, although he was defeated in the Gulf War. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q4AGNK5GIXKPKJN3KY3C5MK2CU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6efa96c3e3c0ce2167dd0f2a3d0e0351ea728d2382af8aef0def58c69458175&width=400&height=225)
A photo dated February 16, 1991 showing damage near a church caused by an allied bombing raid in Baghdad. AFP
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A view dated March 8, 1991 of damage in downtown Baghdad from an Allied air strike or missiles raid. AFP
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A car on February 7, 1991 in Samawa, south of Baghdad, after an allied bombing raid. AFP
Invasion of Kuwait 30 years on: 'Our lives changed forever'
Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi explains how the course of her family's life changed dramatically after Saddam Hussein's regime invaded Kuwait in August 1990
![Mina Al-Oraibi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F20b0a14a-4752-45e7-bd50-02d862b8620f.png?smart=true&auth=fa0786beb6d56b6b3c24aff9ec8833db4e2a8e7e19ad17fb8d3531123054ad03&width=70&height=70)
Mina Al-Oraibi
02 August, 2020
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