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Conflicts > Persian Gulf War
In August of 1990 Iraq invaded and occupied the country of
Kuwait. President Bush of the United States formed a coalition
of nations to ensure that the remaining Gulf nations remained
safe from invasion and to force the retreat of Iraq's army from
Kuwait.
A number of Special Forces units took part in this war to
include Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), 5th
Special Forces Group, 3rd Special Forces Group, and 10th Special
Forces Group. In addition, there were a number of individual
augmentees from the reserve component Special Forces Groups
(11th, 12th, 19th, and 20th groups).
The primary Special Forces missions conducted during this war
include Coalition Support Teams (CSTs), Direct Action, Strategic
Reconnaissance, Personnel Recovery, and Unconventional Warfare.
5th Special Forces Group deployed in its entirety to set up
operational bases in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
3rd Special Forces Group provided a battalion that operated
under SOCCENT.
10th Special Forces Group provided one company that operated
under SOCCENT and was based initially in Saudi Arabia. The 10th
SFG also conducted a Combat Search and Rescue
(CSAR) mission from bases in Turkey to rescue downed pilots in
northern Iraq. SOCEUR set up a CJSOTF in Turkey to oversea the
CSAR mission and to be prepared for the conduct of follow-on
mission. 10th Group provided an SFOB (-), two skeleton battalion
staffs, and two companies for the CSAR mission. 10th Group would
later in 1991 deploy the entire group on Operation Provide
Comfort - a humanitarian mission to assist Kurdish refugees
along the Turkish border and in northern Iraq.
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