See how the Gulf War began: ‘The skies over Baghdad have been illuminated’

In 1990, on the brink of the Gulf War, journalists were urged to leave Iraq. CNN stayed and became the first network to live broadcast a war. In this episode of CNN’s Rewind series, hear CNN news anchor Bernard Shaw famously say, “The skies of Baghdad are being illuminated.” And relive the tense moments during the CNN broadcast as journalists hid under beds to stay live on the air, bombs falling on the city around them. #CNN #News

42 comments

  1. I remember being stationed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, knowing this when the attack was going to begin and watching it on CNN with my crew. January 17th 3am 1990

    1. Well, if your telling the truth, we Americans are proud of you and your crew.. Thank you guys and woman for your service! 👍. 🇺🇸

    2. 9/11 was an inside job. Iraq never had WMDs. All you morons sent your sons and daughters to die for nothing. STOP TAKING ORDERS FROM PSYCHOPATHS.

    3. Go back to your job of protecting and keeping the Al Saud royal family in power in Saudi Arabia 😂😂😂…Also its “1991” not 1990

  2. I watched CNN all night and day during this war. Everything happened is still fresh in my memory. I remember how the US smart bomb penetrate the most fortified structures of Iraq like the ministry of defense and other military infrastructures of Iraq. I watched how the pilots targeted every military installations even how the military get inside Saddam’s palace. I was working in Paris at that time when Kuwait was invaded by Saddam Hussein but I lived and work in Baghdad before that, during the Iran-Iraq war so I’m very much connected to this war. I also experienced a bombing in front of my apartment and our windows were shattered i thought it’s the end of my life. Back to the American attacking Iraq, I followed every day until Saddam was captured by the US military hiding in the manholes who was betrayed by one of his men who knows where he’s hiding and collected the bounty. Putin should have the same fate with Saddam if he continues to engage war with Ukraine that would definitely lead to a NATO invasion of Russia and capture Putin to face trial for the crime he committed not just in Ukraine. Putin beware and stop killing the Ukrainians now and discontinue your crazy ambition to be a GREAT PERSON because you’re not, you’ll die like other dictators in the world.😂😂😂

    1. Heyyyyyy you must hurry to rush for physical gold Rssia Ukrine war could spread all over the world,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

  3. My Mom pulled me from school so i can watch it. She thought it was more important to watch then going to school for those first couple of days.

    1. Sounds like you’re mom has an appreciation for history.
      I watched it on tv as a kid too.
      Days like that leave scars on our souls , at least they do mine.

    2. I remember being in England and waking up at 5am in a hotel room to go somewhere. Well this was Feb 24th 2022 and I didn’t forget a thing about that day. Truley something I knew I had to watch because it was going to be an historic event.

  4. How did this war affect decision making process of Saddam Hussein during Operation Iraqi Freedom? Did Saddam think it was gonna be another bombing campaign followed by sanctions and nothing further?

  5. I won’t forget the feeling of doom when watching this happen.
    The same feeling has been in the air for a few years now.
    Be ready for anything.

  6. This was my war. 1st Med Bn, 1st FSSG, 1st Marine Division. I was in Saudi Arabia, near the Kuwaiti border and the noise was deafening and went on constantly.

    1. I see,your government attack the population with an excuse to steal and take the country resources.

    2. 9/11 was an inside job. Iraq never had WMDs. All you morons sent your sons and daughters to die for nothing. STOP TAKING ORDERS FROM PSYCHOPATHS.

  7. To this day I salute the brave men of Red Adair, Safety Boss and the rest who extinguished the oil well fires in record time.

  8. This is when United Nations represents the world for the good of the world and humanity true meaning of world peace unity of the UN

  9. I was 8 and it made a real impact on me. i also collected those cards that was like hockey cards but had equipment and the people in charge.

    1. 9/11 was an inside job. Iraq never had WMDs. All you morons sent your sons and daughters to die for nothing. STOP TAKING ORDERS FROM PSYCHOPATHS.

  10. I still remember the blatant lie by Colin Powell in security council when he made statement that Saddam had chemical and mobile biological weapons which is yet to be found after “Iraqi freedom”.. invading sovereign nation is wrong with Ukraine but acceptable for UN and other entities when it is non EU and non western nations..any war crime by west(Australia defence) is not eligible for review by ICJ but biased same country but for Russia will not be eligible for this service..so much for democratic process..

  11. Damn, what a statement. Indeed they did have the best support behind their backs and not one hand behind their backs. That’s what I call a leader, overwhelming force, not like now with Ukraine which is looking stale.

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