Introduction

Since Kuwait attained its independence in mid-1961, Iraq, under the leadership of two different regimes, has posed major threats to Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in 1961, 1973 and 1990. While, in 1961, the nationalist government of ‘Abd al-Kasim Qassim in Baghdad was discontented with Kuwait’s independence and adamant in claiming sovereignty over Kuwait, it was the Ba’thist regime which in 1973 threatened Kuwait’s national security and finally in 1990 invaded Kuwait-two years after concluding a cease-fire agreement with Iran in August 1988.