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Kuwait

In the 18 century the Sabah family established itself as ruler of Kuwait.

The British established their presence in Kuwait in the late 19th century as part of their line of transportation and communication with India. They formed close relationships with local rulers eager to assert their independence from the Ottoman empire.

In 1899 the Emir or King of Kuwait, Mubarak al-Sabah, signed agreement with the British making Kuwait a protectorate of the British Empire. Britain was then able to introduce indirect rule in Kuwait.

The country grew wealthy after Oil was discovered in the late 1930s. Kuwait gained independence from Britain in 1961. Later in the year, the Emir allowed election into a constituent assembly. A new constitution was drawn up in 1962 which guaranteed Sabah Family dominance, but allowed other Kuwaitis a role in government.

Soon after independence, Iraq began to claim ownership of Kuwait. It took pressure from other Arab countries and the British to persuade Iraq to back down from its claim.

In late July 1990 President Saddam Hussein of Iraq mobilized his armed forces along the border with Kuwait. On August 2 the Iraqi forces invaded and overwhelmed Kuwait. An international force, led by the United States of America, came to the aid of Kuwait. After six weeks of fighting, the U.S.-led international force drove Iraq out of Kuwait.