US Marines In The Wars On Terror

When Iraq refused to leave Kuwait following the 1990 invasion, Operation Desert Storm began. During the operation, Marines accomplished a wide range of missions: From the air, Marine pilots used fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to destroy Iraq’s air and naval forces, anti-air defenses and ballistic missile launchers. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government declared a “Global War on Terrorism.” In response to the Taliban government’s refusal to respond to known terrorist activities within their borders, Marines were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2003, Iraq became a second front in the war on terrorism with Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both operations are ongoing, with Marine responsibilities ranging from combat and security operations to humanitarian efforts.