What you'll learn
Conflicts in the Gulf and Afghanistan after the Cold War.
The Gulf War (1990–91)
- Iraq's invasion of Kuwait under Saddam Hussein; the US-led coalition (Operation Desert Storm) liberated Kuwait.
The War on Terror
- The 9/11 attacks (2001) by al-Qaeda led to the US-led War on Terror.
- Afghanistan (2001): removal of the Taliban; long insurgency.
The Iraq War (2003)
- US/UK invasion of Iraq; fall of Saddam; controversy over WMD claims; insurgency and instability.
Exam tips
- Distinguish the causes and aims of each conflict.
- Use source questions to weigh reliability and purpose.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the 1991 Gulf War with the 2003 Iraq War.
- Vague answers lacking dates and names.