The Persian Gulf War was the first major international encounter since the end of the Cold War. It tested the cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union. The war was fought between Iraq and a coalition of 39 countries, organized mainly by the United States and the United Nations. The war took place in Iraq and the tiny, oil-rich nation of Kuwait. Tensions began when Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq quickly gained control of Kuwait and moved troops to the border with Saudi Arabia. Leaders believed Iraq was prepared to invade Saudi Arabia next, and that the world’s supply of petroleum was in jeopardy. The coalition placed embargoes on Iraq, but they refused to retreat. On January 17, 1991, the bombing of Iraqi military and industrial targets began. A massive ground attack was launched in February, and the Iraqis were quickly defeated and driven out of Kuwait. Immense human suffering in the Middle East occurred as a result of the Gulf War. Environmental damage occurred when the Iraqis set hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells on fire and dumped huge amounts of oil into the Persian Gulf. Baghdad was hit by some of the most devastating air raids in history, knocking out communication and public works systems.