30 years after Gulf War: 7 reasons it matters so much today

Thirty years ago, on August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein unleashed his massive army to invade the small Gulf state of Kuwait. It was one of the first major post-Cold War crises and the US decision to eject Saddam shaped the 1990s and continues to shape the Middle East. It set in motion, or fueled, a series of important changes in the region, including the weakening of Iraq, the rise of Islamist extremism, strengthening of Iran, growing US-Gulf ties, rise of Kurdish rights, increased American role in the region and Israel’s recognition that it could face existential threats requiring better air defense.

What follows is a look at some of the key parts of the conflict that resound today.