The Gulf War was a conflict between UN approved coalition forces against Iraq. Conflicts developed between both parties in retrospect to the Iran-Iraq war. Iraq had sent troops into Kuwait, and in an attempt to deter aggression, sanctions had been imposed by the United Nations. As the possibility of an Iraq invasion into Saudi Arabia grew, the United States launched Operation Desert Shield, in a defensive attempt to protect Saudi Arabia, a state with huge economic importance to the West. An approved use of force to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait was successful, and by 1991, no-fly zones had been set up in an attempt to protect Sh'ite and Kurdish groups in southern and northern Iraq.
Even though the deterrence was carried out by a UN approved coalition, it was clear that operations in Kuwait were spearheaded solely by the United States. It was a depiction showing that the United States possesses the capability to gather its troops and resources to counter aggression against a belligerent nation. Western intervention into conflicts within the Islamic world highlights the relationship of interdependence between the Islamic Civilization and the West.
Western cultural traits of individualism, industriousness and intervention were displayed in their reaction towards the Gulf War. Saudi Arabia was seen as an important actor in Western geopolitics, and the possibility of an Iraqi invasion had led to a deployment of US led coalition forces. The intervention is said to be an attempt to maintain Kuwait's border integrity, but on the side note, it was also an attempt to preserve stability within the oil-rich region of Saudi Arabia, also an ally of the United States. The dependence of United States onto oil reserves within the Middle East has greatly influenced its policy towards the Islamic Civilization. However, through US involvement in the Iraq-Iran conflict, it was evident that their relationship and Iraq were strained, as attempts by the United Nations to inspect Iraq's compliance to the restriction on weapons of mass destruction were blocked. United States had members in the inspection group expelled, as they were accused of an attempted espionage.