Historical highlight: The 35th anniversary of the end of hostilities in Operation DESERT STORM Published Feb. 27, 2026 By USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs and USAFE-AFAFRICA History Office U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- This Saturday signifies the 35th anniversary of the end of hostilities in Operation DESERT STORM, commonly referred to as the First Gulf War. Operation DESERT STORM was a significant event in the decisive application of air power as well as a pivotal moment in U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces in Africa organizational history. The objective of this combined operation was to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi aggression. In a six week-long air campaign, alliance airpower sufficiently attritted Iraqi air and ground forces to the point that coalition ground forces were able to achieve all their objectives in less than 96 hours: ejecting Iraqi forces from Kuwait and forcing Saddam Hussein’s regime to relent. In Operation DESERT STORM, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) deployed forces to Saudi Arabia, including F-111 Aardvarks assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, U.K., F-4 Phantoms assigned to the 52d Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and C-130 Hercules assigned to the 435th Tactical Airlift Wing at Rhein-Main AB, Germany. USAFE also supported coalition operations from Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, which later evolved into Operations PROVIDE COMFORT and NORTHERN WATCH. The motive of these operations was to protect the Kurdish minority in northern Iraq from atrocities perpetuated by the Iraqi regime. These operations marked a significant change for USAFE. Prior to DESERT STORM, USAFE managed a robust force designed to resist Soviet aggression in Europe during the Cold War. After the First Gulf War, USAFE became a much smaller force that became more active in the 1990s, including Operations ALLIED FORCE and DELIBERATE FORCE in the former Yugoslavia, as well as supporting the Second Gulf War in Iraq in 2003. USAFE-AFAFRICA recognizes the importance of how Operation DESERT STORM impacted the decisive application of air power, and how the operation represented a critical turning point that reshaped the organizational structure of USAFE for years to come.