The Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991), code-named Operation Desert Shield (2 August 1990 – 17 January 1991) for operations leading to the buildup of troops and the defense of Saudi Arabia, and code-named Operation Desert Storm (17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991) in its combat phase, was a war waged by coalition forces from 35 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait arising from oil pricing and production disputes. The war is also known under other names, such as the Persian Gulf War, First Gulf War, Gulf War I, Kuwait War, First Iraq War or Iraq War, before the term "Iraq War" became identified instead with the 2003 Iraq War.
Scanned below from my postal history collection is an Operation Desert Shield cover. This United States Marine cover is postmarked October 25, 1990 with a US MARINE UNIT 12 cancel to Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Also from my collection, this is a cover from Operation Desert Storm from the 350th Evacuation Hospital to Des Moines, Iowa, USA, postmarked February 24, 1991. The 350th Evacuation Hospital, home based in Canton, Ohio, USA, was deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm.