During the Gulf War of 1990 to 1991 in modern world history, Iraq fought against a United States led coalition. Under whose political leadership did Iraq conduct its military actions in this conflict?

Introduction / Context:
The Gulf War of 1990 to 1991 is a major event in recent world history and international relations. It began when Iraq invaded Kuwait and was followed by a large United States led coalition operation to liberate Kuwait. Understanding who led Iraq during this period is a basic part of studying modern Middle Eastern history. This question tests your knowledge of the main Iraqi leader associated with the Gulf War.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The conflict mentioned is the Gulf War of 1990 to 1991.
• Iraq is the country that invaded Kuwait and fought against a coalition of states.
• The question asks for the political leader under whose rule Iraq fought.
• Four prominent Middle Eastern or regional leaders are provided as options.

Concept / Approach:
To identify the correct leader, recall which country each option is associated with during that period. Saddam Hussein was the President and strongman ruler of Iraq. Hosni Mubarak was the President of Egypt. Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria. Yasser Arafat was the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Once you correctly connect each name to the country, it becomes clear that Saddam Hussein was the Iraqi leader who ordered the invasion of Kuwait and led Iraq during the Gulf War.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Iraq invaded Kuwait on the orders of Saddam Hussein in August 1990.Step 2: The United Nations and a coalition led by the United States responded with military force in Operation Desert Storm in early 1991.Step 3: Saddam Hussein remained the President and central decision maker in Iraq throughout this conflict.Step 4: Check each option and match it to its country: Hosni Mubarak is linked to Egypt, Hafez al-Assad to Syria, and Yasser Arafat to the Palestinian national movement.Step 5: The only leader associated with Iraq in this list is Saddam Hussein, so he must be the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering key images and news headlines from that period. International media often showed Saddam Hussein as the face of Iraqi power during the crisis, appearing on television in military uniform and making speeches. History textbooks on the Gulf War also clearly state that Saddam Hussein was the Iraqi President who ordered the occupation of Kuwait. None of the other leaders in the options had authority over Iraq or commanded its armed forces.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Hosni Mubarak was the President of Egypt and, in fact, his country was part of the coalition that opposed Iraq in the Gulf War.
Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria and had his own complex regional policies but did not control Iraq or lead Iraqi forces.
Yasser Arafat led the Palestine Liberation Organization and was involved in Palestinian politics, not in the governmental leadership of Iraq.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Middle Eastern leaders because their names appear frequently in discussions of conflicts in the same region. Another common mistake is to mix up leaders based on later events or on different wars. To avoid such errors, it helps to tie each leader to his specific country and period: Saddam Hussein with Iraq, Hosni Mubarak with Egypt, Hafez al-Assad with Syria, and Yasser Arafat with the Palestinian movement. This mental mapping makes identification questions easier and more accurate.

Final Answer:
During the Gulf War of 1990 to 1991, Iraq fought under the leadership of Saddam Hussein.