UN peacekeeping in Iraq-Kuwait

UN peacekeeping in Iraq-Kuwait

On 2 August 1990, Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait. On the same day, the Security Council adopted its resolution 660 (1990), condemning the invasion and demanding Iraq’s immediate withdrawal of its forces to the pre-occupied position. The Council instituted mandatory arms and economic sanctions against Iraq.
Between 2 August and 29 November 1990, the Council adopted 12 resolutions on various aspects of the situation between Iraq and Kuwait, culminating in resolution 678 (1990). If Iraq have not implemented all the necessary resolutions, Member States cooperating with Kuwait's legitimate Government were authorized to use "all necessary means" to compel Iraq and restore international peace and security in the area.

On 3 April 1991, the Council adopted resolution 687 (1991), setting detailed conditions for a formal ceasefire to end the conflict and establishing the machinery for ensuring implementation of those conditions. Following Iraq’s acceptance of the resolution’s provisions, the ceasefire became a formal one.
Establishment of UNIKOM
By resolution 687 (1991) the Council established, a demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the boundary between Iraq and Kuwait, to be monitored by a United Nations observer unit. The Secretary-General reported back on 5 April 1991, and on 9 April, by its resolution 689 (1991), the Security Council, established the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) with the strength of 300 military observers.
The Council gave UNIKOM a mandate to monitor the DMZ and the Khawr 'Abd Allah waterway between Iraq and Kuwait; to deter violations of the boundary; and to observe any hostile action mounted from the territory of one State against the other.

UNIKOM is deployed
UNIKOM’s aim was to patrol and observe the assigned zones in order to prevent conflicts between Iraq and Kuwait. Except for the oilfields and two towns - Umm Qasr, which became Iraq's only outlet to the sea, and Safwan - the zone is barren and almost uninhabited. UNIKOM enjoys full freedom of movement throughout the DMZ and observes the length and breadth of the zone.