US Forces were observers during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), as well as trying to keep the sea lanes open in the Persian Gulf; which resulted in nearly 30 US Sailors killed when an Iraqi missile struck the US Navy Frigate USS Stark in 1987.
The Gulf War is also known as the Second Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) Iraq invaded its neighbour Kuwait on 2 August 1990 to try to retain an easier export path for oil (Iraq is landlocked). The...