Home > War in the Persian Gulf > Hussein ibn Talal Biography

Born November 14, 1935

Amman, Jordan

Died February 7, 1999

Amman, Jordan

King of Jordan and Middle Eastern statesman who supported Iraq during the 1991 Persian Gulf War

"Let war be banished from our lands forever, so that we may engage our minds and energies in the development of the area."

King Hussein in Current Leaders of Nations.

Hussein ibn Talal, king of Jordan was a respected Middle Eastern leader who supported Iraq during the Persian Gulf War. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the king spent the next few months trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the crisis. When these efforts failed, he bowed to pressure from Jordan's large Palestinian population and threw his support behind Iraq. King Hussein's decision led to strained relations between his country and members of the U.S.-led coalition that fought against...