The UK reacted to a call for protection from Sheikh Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah of Kuwait, and air, sea and land forces were in place within days.

Following a coup in Iraq, the new government recognised Kuwaiti independence in 1963, although it was never ratified thus remained unbinding and was later rejected by the revolutionary command leading to more border disputes in the future.

[5] The reasons for Iraqi belligerence are debatable, but as well as the political gain to be accrued from a successful military campaign, Kuwait's assets at the time included possible oil reserves (confirmed later) and secure access to the sea, which Iraq lacked.

The Royal Air Force sent 2 Canberra Reconnaissance aircraft, of 13 Squadron based in Cyprus, which flew daily sorties to photograph the border.

[3] Qasim was killed in a coup in 1963 and the new regime signed recognition agreement with Kuwait that remained unratified and was later declared unconstitutional, and subsequently cancelled.