Which military operation was launched in 1991 against Iraq?

The military operation launched in 1991 against Iraq encompasses both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Operation Desert Shield began in August 1990 in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, involving the buildup of U.S. and coalition forces in Saudi Arabia to deter further Iraqi aggression. Following this buildup, Operation Desert Storm was initiated in January 1991, marking the start of combat operations aimed at liberating Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

The significance of these operations lies in their collective goal to restore sovereignty to Kuwait and ensure stability in the region. Together, they represented a decisive military response by a coalition of nations, leading to the rapid defeat of Iraqi forces and the liberation of Kuwait by late February 1991.

In contrast, the other options refer to different military operations with different objectives and timeframes. Operation Enduring Freedom, for instance, was initiated after the September 11 attacks in 2001 and focused on combatting terrorism in Afghanistan. Operation Desert Fox occurred in 1998 and involved airstrikes against Iraq but did not have the same context or objectives as operations conducted in 1991. Operation Neptune Spear, conducted in 2011, was the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. Thus,