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Kuwait
Omani Role in the Persian Gulf War, 1991
Oman's perceptions of the strategic problems in the gulf diverge
somewhat from those of the other Arab gulf states. Geographically,
it faces outward to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and
only a few kilometers of its territory--the western coast of the
Musandam Peninsula--border the Persian Gulf. Nevertheless, sharing
the guardianship of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, Oman's position
makes it of key importance to the security of the entire gulf.
In its willingness to enter into strategic cooperation with the
United States and Britain, Oman has always stood somewhat apart
from the other gulf states. In 1980 Muscat and Washington concluded
a ten-year "facilities access" agreement granting the United States
limited access to the air bases on Masirah and at Thamarit and
As Sib and to the naval bases at Muscat, Salalah, and Al Khasab.
The agreement was renewed for a further ten-year period in December
1990. Although some Arab governments initially expressed their
disapproval for granting the United States basing privileges,
the agreement permitted use of these bases only on advance notice
and for specified purposes. During the Iran-Iraq War, the United
States flew maritime patrols from Omani airfields and based tanker
aircraft to refuel United States carrier aircraft. The United
States Army Corps of Engineers carried out considerable construction
at the Masirah and As Sib air bases, making it possible to pre-position
supplies, vehicles, and ammunition. Hardened aircraft shelters
were built at As Sib and Thamarit for use of the ROAF.
Oman's traditionally good relations with Iran were strained by
Iran's attacks on tanker movements in the gulf and Iran's emplacement
of Chinese Silkworm antiship missile launchers near the Strait
of Hormuz. The sultanate reinforced its military position on the
Musandam Peninsula, which is only about sixty kilometers from
Iranian territory.
After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Oman declared its support
for the multinational coalition ranged against Iraq. The facilities
on Masirah became an important staging area for the movement of
coalition forces to the area of conflict. Oman also contributed
troops to Operation Desert Storm as part of the Arab contingent
of Joint Forces Command East. A reinforced Omani brigade, along
with Saudi, UAE, Kuwaiti, and other forces, participated in the
ground assault paralleling the gulf coast that converged on the
city of Kuwait. No Omani combat deaths were reported.
Data as of January 1993
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