Saddam Hussein led Iraq into a prolonged and costly war with Iran from 1980 to 1988 , and then into its fateful invasion of Kuwait in 1990 . Kuwait had been part of the Ottoman province of Basra before 1918 , and thus in a sense part of Iraq , even though Iraq had recognized its independence in 1961 . In response , the United States formed a coalition of allies with Saudi Arabia , Egypt , and Syria , gained UN approval , and evicted Iraq from Kuwait by force in the Gulf War . President George H. W. Bush did not , however , attempt to overthrow Saddam Hussein , which the United States later came to regret . The Gulf War led to a permanent U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf , particularly in Saudi Arabia , which offended many Muslims , and was a reason often cited by Osama bin Laden as justification for the September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
History of the Middle East