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Conflicts in the Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq

Study note

Towards the end of the 20th century and into the 21st, British armed forces took part in several conflicts overseas. In 1990 Iraq invaded its small neighbour Kuwait, and Britain played a leading role in the international coalition forces that liberated Kuwait. So the country freed after Iraq's 1990 invasion was Kuwait.

Since the year 2000, British forces have also been involved in the wider fight against international terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. This has included military operations in Afghanistan and in Iraq. British combat troops finally left Iraq in 2009, so that is the date to remember for their withdrawal from Iraq.

Memory tip: 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait; Britain joins coalitions; later operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Practise this topic

Question 1 of 3

Britain helped liberate which country after it was invaded by Iraq in 1990?

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Show all questions and answers for Conflicts in the Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq(3 questions with explanations)

Conflicts in the Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Britain helped liberate which country after it was invaded by Iraq in 1990?

    • Afghanistan
    • Yugoslavia
    • Iran
    • Kuwait

    Correct answer: Kuwait

    Britain played a leading role in the coalition that liberated Kuwait after Iraq invaded it in 1990.

  2. 2. In which year did British combat troops leave Iraq?

    • 2014
    • 2009
    • 2000
    • 1990

    Correct answer: 2009

    British combat troops left Iraq in 2009.

  3. 3. Since 2000, British armed forces have taken part in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

    • True
    • False

    Correct answer: True

    True. British forces have been engaged in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2000.

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