In 2026, we mark 35 years since Australia’s involvement in the Gulf War, a pivotal chapter in our nation’s modern military history. The 1990-91 campaign, known as Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, saw Australian Defence Force personnel serve with courage and professionalism as part of the international coalition to liberate Kuwait.
Australia’s contribution was led by a Royal Australian Navy task group comprising HMAS Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney, Success, and Westralia, which operated in the Persian Gulf from August 1990 through to the ceasefire in February 1991. Their mission involved maritime interdiction, replenishment, and the enforcement of UN sanctions under the constant threat of air and missile attack.
Following the conflict, Australian personnel continued to serve in vital post-war operations, from mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal in Kuwaiti waters to humanitarian aid under Operation Habitat, providing medical and engineering support to thousands of Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq. In total, 1,872 Australians served during the Gulf War, with no combat casualties, yet many continue to live with the unseen impacts of their service.
This commemorative event honours all who served, at sea, in the air, and on the ground, and remembers their families who supported them through the uncertainty of a new kind of conflict. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the professionalism, resilience, and humanitarian spirit that continues to define Australian service members to this day.
Join us as we remember their dedication, acknowledge their legacy, and reaffirm our enduring gratitude 35 years on.
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