By Sheikha Suhaila Al-Sabah
Managing Editor
Every year on August 2, Kuwait commemorates a day that is still deeply etched within the nation’s collective reminiscence: the anniversary of the brutal Iraqi invasion in 1990.
Now marking its thirty fifth yr, the remembrance comes at a time when the area has witnessed profound modifications—not least within the evolving and considerably improved relationship between Kuwait and Iraq, which, regardless of the deep scars, has progressed steadily towards reconciliation and cooperation.
The invasion was a surprising chapter in fashionable historical past—a treacherous daybreak when the Iraqi forces stormed into Kuwaiti territory, trampling on sovereignty, human dignity, and each precept of worldwide regulation.
However what started as an act of aggression shortly ignited a historic wave of resistance. The Kuwaiti individuals—each women and men—responded with unparalleled braveness, from civil disobedience and underground resistance to the tireless efforts of the official Kuwaiti management in exile, which galvanized international opinion and diplomatic momentum.
These darkish days witnessed unforgettable sacrifices. Tons of of Kuwaiti residents have been martyred in protection of the homeland, together with nationwide icons like Martyr Faisal Al-Sanea, who selected loss of life over submission, and Mubarak Al-Nowat, who gave his life defending constitutional legitimacy. Girls-led protests defied bullets and repression, breaking the silence of occupation and planting the seeds of a brand new Kuwaiti historical past.
After seven months of occupation, Kuwait was liberated on 26 February 1991, by the hands of a historic worldwide coalition led by the USA beneath UN Decision 678, in what turned often known as Operation Desert Storm. This operation not solely restored Kuwait’s freedom but additionally reshaped international navy and political balances on the daybreak of the post-Chilly Warfare period.
However the finish of the occupation didn’t mark the top of the story. Iraq confronted years of UN sanctions beneath Chapter VII as a result of crimes of its former regime—sanctions that strained the Iraqi individuals and affected your entire area.
With the autumn of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, a brand new chapter started. Successive Iraqi governments have since sought to show the web page, constructing relationships primarily based on mutual respect and good neighborliness.
This yr’s commemoration is symbolically important, reminding us not solely of the tragedy of the invasion but additionally of the maturity of Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations. Bilateral ties have reached unprecedented ranges of coordination, as mirrored within the historic 2012 go to of the Iraqi Prime Minister to Kuwait and the participation of the late Amir of Kuwait within the Arab Summit in Baghdad the identical yr.
Right this moment, Kuwait and Iraq stand for example of what may be achieved via real political will. Officers on either side affirm that almost all of excellent points have been resolved, and each international locations are transferring confidently towards a extra steady regional partnership.
But this rapprochement has not come at the price of Kuwait’s nationwide reminiscence. The federal government and residents alike insist on preserving the reminiscence of the invasion—to not dwell on ache, however to cross on the teachings of dignity and patriotism to future generations.
Efforts to doc the interval lengthen past politics. Civil society organizations, specifically the Affiliation of Households of Martyrs, Prisoners, and Lacking Individuals, have performed an important position in cultivating a tradition of remembrance. By way of publications, movies, calls to call streets after martyrs, and efforts to incorporate their tales within the nationwide curriculum, they make sure that the flame of reminiscence stays alive.
Equally, the heroic position of Kuwaiti girls throughout the invasion mustn’t ever be forgotten. Girls have been ‘on the frontlines’, partaking in civil resistance and sacrificing their lives for sovereignty and legitimacy. Martyrs like Wafa Al-Amer and Asrar Al-Qabandi embody this spirit. Their tales have been documented in Arab encyclopedias, highlighting that heroism in Kuwait was not restricted to any single group—it was a nationwide epic of resistance.
Although Kuwait paid a heavy worth, what adopted was a stronger, extra united nation with a stable constitutional basis and a vigilant civil society. The October 1990 Jeddah Convention captured this spirit—the place Kuwaitis reaffirmed their unwavering dedication to their legitimacy and structure as non-negotiable ideas.
Right this moment, 35 years later, Kuwait stands firmly grounded in political and democratic stability. It honors its previous whereas advancing confidently into the long run. The injuries of invasion nonetheless linger within the Kuwaiti consciousness, however the message to the world is loud and clear: Sovereignty just isn’t on the market, the homeland is to not be taken, and freedom is to not be bargained.
Might God bless the souls of Kuwait’s martyrs and defend Kuwait and its individuals from all hurt.