What event triggered the Gulf War and prompted a swift U.S.-led coalition response?

• A. U.S. invasion of Iraq
• B. Saddam's attempt to seize control of neighboring Oman
• C. United Nations sanctions
• D. Iraq invaded Kuwait

Answer: (D)

The main idea is recognizing what directly sparked the Gulf War: a violent breach of a country’s sovereignty. Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 immediately challenged regional stability and cut off a crucial part of the world’s oil supply. Because this act violated Kuwait’s independence, the international community quickly moved to respond. The United Nations authorized force to compel Iraq to withdraw, and the United States built a broad, multinational coalition to execute that mandate, culminating in military action to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The other options don’t fit because there was no U.S. invasion of Iraq at that time, no attempt by Saddam to seize Oman, and sanctions, while significant, were not what triggered the swift military response.