In August 1990, Saddam Hussein made a decision that would reshape the Middle East, and trigger one of the most decisive military responses of the late 20th century. This video explores the complex chain of events that led Iraq to invade Kuwait. Was it purely about oil, or something deeper? We examine the economic strain Iraq faced after the brutal Iran–Iraq War, including massive debts and falling oil prices. Kuwait’s role—through oil overproduction and disputed drilling—is brought into focus, alongside long-standing territorial claims dating back to the Ottoman era. But beyond economics, there was ambition. Saddam sought to position Iraq as the dominant power in the Gulf, believing the international response would be limited. That calculation proved disastrously wrong.