MIDDLE EAST HISTORY POLITICS CULTURE XI-XII Middle East | Page 36

which gave Iraq time until 15 January 1991 to withdraw from Kuwait and
empowered states to use “all necessary means” to force Iraq out of Kuwait
after the deadline. Iraq posed a significant threat to Saudi Arabia because its
army was within easy striking distance of Saudi oil fields. Iraq had a number
of grievances with Saudi Arabia and UAE as they had lent Iraq some 26
billion dollars during its war with Iran. They backed Iraq in that war, as they
feared the influence of Shia Iran’s Islamic Revolution on their own Shia
minorities. But after the war Saddam felt he shouldn’t have to repay the loans
due to the help he had given those countries by fighting Iran.
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