In late 1990, Iraq attacked Kuwait, claiming that it was Iraq’s long-lost nineteenth province. A coalition of countries, led by the United States, fought against Iraq. The land war lasted a mere 100 hours (the air war began January 17, 1991, and ended, along with the land war, on February 28) and Kuwait was liberated from Iraq in February 1991. Most of Kuwait was destroyed, especially oil facilities, by Iraq’s “scorched earth” policy.