Chronology of key events of Gulf War and aftermath

Due to the number of updates, all updates will be bolded.

Some of the below information was taken from various news stories.

This Chronology was updated on 8 April 2000.

If you would like to add an item to the chronology such as when your unit arrived in the Gulf, please
send me an email with the date and event. Also, if there are errors or corrections please let me know.
kornkven@jefnet.com


1976

September - The CIA first learns of a weapons depot in Khamisiyah. Chemical weapons weren't moved there until sometime between June 1984 and March 1985.

1988

American Type Culture Collection, with Joshua Lederberg sitting on the board, ships biological samples to Iraq. Dr. Lederberg later declared no problems related to biological warfare agents as a member of the Defense Science Board in relation to Gulf War Illnesses.

1990

Aug. 2 - Iraq invades Kuwait. UN adopts resolution 660 condemning invasion and demands immediate withdrawal.
Aug. 6 - United Nations imposes sanctions on Iraq, which devastate economy. They are still in force.
Aug. 18 - Iraq detains a number of "third state nationals". UN adopts resolution 664 demanding their release.
Oct. 11 - Iraq releases all detained women and children, others still detained at strategic sites.
Nov. 29 - UN adopts resolution 678 authorizing Member States to use "all necessary means" to uphold Security Council resolutions.

1991

Jan. 16 - U.S.-led coalition launches air war against Iraq.
104 chemical/biological/nuclear sites bombed releasing toxins during the air war.
Jan. 20 - Logs from the American military headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, show evidence of chemical weapon fallout in northern Saudi Arabia after allied bombing raid on Iraqi positions in Kuwait.
Jan. 24 - 732 oil fires set by retreating Iraqi's.
Jan. 29 - Iraq crosses border into Saudi Arabia, Marines engaged in heavy fighting.
Jan-Feb - Various units of coalition forces, including Czech chemical weapons detection teams, report chemical alarms sounding at multiple times and places during allied bombing raids.
Feb. 24 - Ground operations begin.
Feb. 24 - Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, the allied commander, calls initial reports of biological or chemical weapons “bogus.”
Feb. 27 - Allied troops take control of Kuwait after 100-hour ground war.
Feb.- Army officials tell reporters the Iraqi army has started to distribute artillery shells laden with lethal chemicals to forward-based units.
Feb. 28 - Cease-fire announced.
March 2 - Shiite Muslims in southern Iraq, followed by Kurds in north, rebel against Saddam Hussein's rule. Iraqi army crushes both revolts. But Kurds, protected by the allies, take control of large swath of the north.
March - Khamisiyah chemical weapons depot blown up releasing nerve and mustard agents into the air.
Apr-May - Pentagon officials say there was no use of chemical weapons during the war.
3 Apr. - The UN Security Council adopts resolution 687 detailing provisions of the cease-fire, destruction of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, creates UNSCOM to supervise with IAEA assisting and creation of a compensation fund for all losses.
18 Apr. - Iraq denies having weapons grade nuclear material, a biological weapons program or any superguns. Iraq declares holdings of ballistic missiles and chemical weapons.
27 Apr. - Iraq admits to having some nuclear materials and facilities.
9 May - UNIKOM monitors withdrawal of last armed forces from demilitarized zone.
15-21 May - IAEA conducts first of 28 on-site inspections.
16 May - Iraq declares additional numbers of ballistic missiles and chemical weapons.
June - A nothern "no-fly zone" is created barring flights above the 36th parallel.
9-15 Jun. - UNSCOM conducts first inspection of chemical facilities.
23-28 Jun. - Iraqi's obstruct access during second IAEA inspection. Shots fired at inspectors.
7-18 Jul. - IAEA, during third inspection uncovers large stocks of natural uranium and 15 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, and reveals existence of enrichment program.
July 11 - Fire at Camp Doha. 9000 pounds of Depleted Uranium burn. Soldiers sent in with no protection to clean up mess after fire burns for three days.
Jul 11 - Airborne radiation monitoring team flown to Camp Doha to conduct air sampling for presence of radioactive material from burning DU. Team headed by a Colonel.
Jul - Combat Action Camera crew flown to Camp Doha to take overflight video of fire. Video transported to Frankfurt Germany and satellite up-linked to the States. Special Courier hand carries video to Office of the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Provision of video in response to subsequent FOIA refused.
18-20 Jul. - Second ballistic missile inspection reveals decoy missiles and launch support equipment. Destroyed.
July 21 - Army Reserve Unit 1173rd United States Army Terminal Transfer Unit (1173rd USATTU) Boston, MA.  Loaded over 22,000 vehicles out of the port of Damman between July and Sept 1991. Departed 9/28/91
27 Jul. - 10 Aug. - Fourth IAEA inspection finds strong evidence of nuclear weaponization program.
2-8 Aug. - UNSCOM conducts first biological weapons inspection uncovering major biological weapons program to include seed stocks for three biological warfare agents. Team removes three other potential biological warfare strains.
5 Aug. - Iraq admits between 1986 and August 1990 it had undertaken biological and bacteriological research.
8-15 Aug. - UNSCOM conducts third ballistic missile inspection. Iraq reveals existence of Supergun and other banned missile material.
11 Aug. - The United States begins high altitude reconnaissance flights over Iraq.
14-20 Sep. - IAEA conducts fifth inspection finding 2.2 tons of heavy water.
20 Sep. - UNSCOM conducts second biological weapons inspection affirming Iraqi biological weapons program.
21-30 Sep. Sixth IAEA inspection team detained in parking lot for four days.
Sept. 23 - U.N. weapons inspectors find documents detailing Iraq's nuclear weapons program and say Iraq was close to building a bomb.
1-9 Oct. - Fifth UNSCOM missle inspection completes destruction of Supergun at Jabal Hamran. Start made on destruction of components for other Superguns.
14 Oct. - Iraq declares research and studies underway for nuclear weaponization.
Oct. 91 - Last of oil fires put out.
Oct. 91 - Inspectors find evidence that chemical weapons had been stored at Kamisiyah.
18 Nov. - 1 Dec. - UNSCOM conducts first joint chemcial/biological inspection finding more than 100 items of chemical bomb making equipment hidden in sugar factory in Mosul and undeclared materials related to Scud missiles.
Nov. 91 - According to testimony to the PAC by Charles Duelfer of UNSCOM, UNSCOM reported to the United States Department of Defense that chemical weapons were present at Khamisiyah.
Late 1991 - The first Gulf War veterans seek medical care.

1992

21 Jan. - 5 Feb. - During seventh UNSCOM chemical inspection, verification of delivery of chemical bomb making equipment to Al Muthanna for destruction, and concludes additional tests needed for procedure to destroy nerve agents.
Aug. 27 - "No-fly zone" imposed over southern Iraq to stop air attacks on Shiite Muslim rebels. United States and its allies begin air patrols, which continue.
Sep. - VA offers legislation to assist Gulf War veterans. Office of Management and Budget will not allow legislation to be offered.
Oct. - Spokesman for the Army surgeon general says, “There is just no evidence to explain why [the veterans] are sick.”
92-93 - National Guard Bureau Inspector General conducts investigation of National Guard and Reserve soldiers being discharged with no disability. Army's "continued hospitalization policy" cited. Policy continues.

1993

Jan. 7 - United States says Saddam moved surface-to-air missiles into southern Iraq. Baghdad refuses to remove them. Allied warplanes attack Iraqi missile sites and warships fire cruise missiles at nuclear facility near Baghdad.
April 13 - One day before former President George Bush was to arrive in Kuwait, 14 arrests made for plotting to assassinate him; Washington says plot organized by Iraqi intelligence.
June 27 - U.S. warships fire 24 Tomahawk cruise missiles at intelligence headquarters in Baghdad in retaliation for assassination plot. By Iraqi count, eight people die.
Sep. 93 - Senate Banking Committee investigators, working for Sen. Donald Riegle, conclude that Gulf War veterans’ symptoms are consistent with exposure to chemical or biological weapons.
Nov. 93 - Defense Secretary Les Aspin says winds were blowing in the wrong direction for any fallout from allied bombings of Iraqi chemical plants to have injured American troops.
1993 - Persian Gulf Veterans Registry started by Department of Veterans Affairs.

1994

March - Gulf War veterans meet in Dallas.
March - White House announces formation of Presidential Advisory Committee.
March 11 - Deputy Defense Secretary John Deutch pledges to do everything he can to resolve questions about Gulf War illnesses: “It is absolutely key that we are not viewed as being as being reluctant to cooperate.”
March - Deputy Defense Secretary John Deutch appears on 60 Minutes saying there were no chemical weapons deployed "south of Basra".
March 16 - Sen. Riegle asks the Pentagon for log books maintained by the U.S. military in Saudi Arabia.
April 15 - The Pentagon says the logs do not exist.
May 4 - Cabinet officials tell Sen. Riegle that nothing indicates Iraqi use of chemical or biological weapons.
Oct. 7 - Iraqi troops move south toward Kuwait. President Clinton dispatches carrier group, 54,000 troops and warplanes to Gulf. Iraqis pull back.

1995

Jan. - The Pentagon releases portions of chemical-detection logs. Most of the pages are missing.
Jun. - National Gulf War Resource Center, Inc. formed in Washington, D.C.
Aug. 8 - Hussein Kamel al-Majid, who headed Iraq's secret drive to build weapons of mass destruction, defects to Jordan with his brother and their wives, both of whom are daughters of Saddam. Al-Majid vows to topple Saddam.

1996

Jan. 6 - Saddam decrees economic austerity measures for Iraq to cope with soaring inflation and widespread shortages caused by U.N. sanctions.
Feb. 20 - Kamel returns to Iraq after providing the United Nations and the United States information about Iraq's arsenal, how Saddam tried to avoid Security Council resolutions and how Saddam's government was organized.
April 26 - John Deutch, now incoming CIA Director, says he believes “we have no compelling evidence of chemical or biological use in the Gulf War.”
May 22 - Iraq reaches deal with United Nations to sell $2 billion in oil for 180 days to buy food and medicine.
June 21 - Department of Defense admits soldiers were exposed to chemical agents released from Khamisiyah. The number of troops in the vicinity is estimated at 300 to 400.
Aug. 31 - In the face of U.S. warnings, Saddam sends tanks, troops and helicopters into northern Iraq, capturing a key city inside the Kurdish "safe haven" protected by U.S.-led forces.
Sept. 2 - U.S. ships and airplanes fire dozens of cruise missiles at military targets in a stated move to punish the Iraq military and discourage it from following Saddam.
Oct - Gulf War veterans meet in Tampa at first annual conference of the National Gulf War Resource Center, Inc.
Oct. 22 - The Pentagon raises the number exposed at Khamisiyah to about 20,000.
Dec. 4 - The Pentagon says it cannot find the missing pages from the chemical-detection logs. The subsequent report by the Inspector General's office does not explain what happened with the missing logs.

1997

Jan. 8 - Presidential Final Report submitted citing stress as the cause of medical problems in Gulf veterans. PAC refuses to investigate depleted uranium exposures thoroughly.
The final report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses became public, slamming the Pentagon for initally ignoring the problem, and urged intensified research to find causes of the illness. The report emphasized stress rather than chemical weapons as a likely major contributing factor to the illnesses. But it said there was clear evidence that some U.S. troops had been exposed to chemical agents during and after the war (N.Y. Times, Chicago Tribune).
Jan. 8 - President Clinton stated "I believe that there are a lot of veterans who got sick as a result of their service in the Gulf. We will do whatever we can and whatever it takes to research Gulf War Illnesses as thoroughly as possible" (N.Y. Times, Chicago Tribune).
Dr. Robert Haley, et. al. releases study results day after the Presidential Advisory Committee report showing no signs of stress induced illness. Cites Neurological disorders.
Jan 22 - For the first time, the V.A. acknowledged that there appeared to be a direct link between exposure to chemical agents close to Khamisiyah and arthritis-like joint systoms. This appeared in a limited sampling of soldiers (N.Y. Times)
Feb 11 - Dr. Bert LaDu, professor of pharmacology at University of Michigan Medical School explained that an inborn genetic difference in only one of the scores of amino acids that make up the human enzyme could make some soldiers more susceptible to organophosphate chemical (such as nerve gas and pesticide)(Detroit News).
Feb. 25 - Pentagon says Army officers received a warning from the CIA in February 1991 that chemical weapons might have been stored in vicinity of the Kamisiyah ammunition depot in southern Iraq.
Feb. 27 - Pentagon reports more than three-quarters of Gulf War chemical weapons logs are missing.
Feb. 28 - The Pentagon said that all full copies of the CENTCOM chemical warfare logs maintained during the war had disappeared, even though copies on paper and computer disks had been stored after the war in locked safes at two different locations in the U.S. The DoD said that after an exhaustive search only 36 of the estimated 200 pages of classified logs could now be found (N.Y. Times).
Mar. 4 - The Pentagon announced it had asked the DoD's Inspector General to investigate the disappearance of about 80% of the Gulf War chemical-detection logs. The missing logs include the March 4 through March 10 period when Khamisiyah was blown up, amoung other time periods (N.Y. Times).
Mar. 6 - Defense Secretary Cohen said that the Pentagon is engaged in a "very thorough, very honest effort to get to the facts" about the health problems amoung Gulf veterans (N.Y. Times).
Mar. 8 - President Clinton lengthened by eight years, until December 31, 2001, the period in which Gulf War veterans with undiagnosed illnesses can apply for government medical benefits. Previously veterans had to prove that their disabilities emerged within two years after the war in order to apply (N.Y. Times).
May - Warren Rudman appointed to oversee Department of Defense investigation into Gulf War illnesses. Defense Department and the CIA jointly appoint former Sen. Warren Rudman as an adviser on Gulf War veterans’ illnesses.
May 6 - Dr. Howard Urnovitz, a microbiologist, revealed research indicating Gulf War toxins - including chemical and biological weapons, oil field smoke and pesticides - may attack geneically weak chromosomes in some people, breaking down their immune system and facilitating certain diseases (USA Today).
June 23 - The U.S. General Accounting Office released their study which points towards chemical exposure as accounting for "Gulf War Illnesses". The report outlines the current status of scientific research. You may obtain a free copy of this 140 page report by calling (202) 512-6000, (Press 1) (Press 8), and ask for the GAO report on the Gulf War Illnesses, which is: GAO/NSIAD-97-163.
July 24 - The Defense Department increases its estimate of the number of U.S. troops exposed to poison gas in the Gulf War to 98,900.
July 30 - U.N. inspectors reported that the U.S. bombed a second large Iraqi ammunition depot containing chemical weapons (the Urkhaydir depot) that was located much closer to Saudi Arabia than Khamaisiyah was (AP).
July 31 - The Pentagon denounced a new previously unpublicized top-secret report prepared for the DoD that found hundreds, if not thousands of Marines might have been exposed to chemical weapons when they crossed Iraqi minefields into Kuwait. The &2 million report, was described by the Pentagon as "sloppy" and "a wild goose chase" (N.Y. Times). (The DOD forgot to mention that the report was produced by one of their own contractors employed to write the report.)
Aug. 1 - U.T. Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas announced new published research showing the Gulf veterans are suffering from brain damage from toxic exposure, not stress (Houston Chronicle).
Aug. 4 - It was revealed that the Air Force was told in a report by Livermore National Laboratories three months before the air war began that bombing Iraq's chemical facilities would release chemical agents that would blow back onto American troops (Gannett News Service).
Aug. 15 - General Schwartkopf denied that the report revealed the day before was ever brought to his attention during the war, and he said he asked if there was any risk repeatedly (Gannett News Service).
Aug. 19 - In a dramatic reversal, 5 of the 11 members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses said they will urge that the panel reverse and conclude that Iraqi chemical weapons may be an important factor in veterans' health problems (N.Y. Times).
Nov - Gulf War veterans meet in Atlanta at second annual conference of the National Gulf War Resource Center, Inc. Congressman Bernard Sanders is keynote speaker.

Nov - Congressman Christopher Shays releases subcommittee report widely supported by Gulf veterans. Report accepted by full 54 members of committee. Report calls for investigation to be taken away from DOD.

Nov - Presidential Advisory Committee releases report still citing stress, now calling for investigation to be taken away from DOD.

Nov - White House elevates Warren Rudman to higher position of oversight, with other panel members.