January: The U.S.-led, U.N.-backed coalition launches air strikes against Iraq, after Saddam's forces fail to meet a U.N. deadline to withdraw from Kuwait. During the fighting, many Iraqi refugees flee to Turkey, Iran and Jordan. Iraq responds by launching Scud missiles against Israel and Saudi Arabia.

February: U.S. ground troops force Iraq out of Kuwait. The U.N. imposes stiff weapons inspections as part of the cease-fire. U.N. inspections reveal evidence of chemical weapons and nuclear weapon programs. Iraq destroys some chemical weapons as a condition of the cease-fire.

March: Shia Muslims in the south and Kurds in the north revolt against Saddam's weakened regime. The U.S. offers little military support to the Kurds, although President Bush encourages the ouster of Saddam. Iraq brutally crushes the revolution. The U.S. and its allies establish no-fly zones in Northern Iraq to protect the Kurds. Later a southern no-fly zone is established to protect Shia Muslims.