A day after the deadline set in Resolution 678, the Coalition launched a massive air campaign, which began the general offensive codenamed Operation Desert Storm. The first priority for Coalition forces was the destruction of Iraq's Air Force and anti-aircraft facilities. The sorties were launched mostly from Saudi Arabia and the six Coalition carrier battle groups (CVBG) in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. 聯軍於Resolution 678所設定最後期現的次日發動了大規模的空中攻擊行動,此行動已開啟了代號沙漠風暴的聯軍全面攻勢。 聯軍的第一優先順序是摧毀伊拉克的空中武力及防空設施。 攻擊的攻擊架次大多數是從沙特及聯軍在波斯灣及紅海的六艘航母發動。
An Iraqi T-54A or Type 59 tank lies destroyed after a Coalition bombing attack during Operation Desert Storm. 一輛伊拉克 T-54或是 Type 59型戰車在沙漠風暴行動中被聯軍轟炸而被摧毀。
The next Coalition targets were command and communication facilities. Saddam Hussein had closely micromanaged Iraqi forces in the Iran–Iraq War, and initiative at lower levels was discouraged. Coalition planners hoped that Iraqi resistance would quickly collapse if deprived of command and control. 聯軍下一個目標是伊拉克的指揮及通訊設施。Saddam Hussein在兩伊戰爭中曾經是緊密地小圈圈式指揮伊拉克部隊,低層級伊軍任何主動性的行動都是不被鼓勵的。 聯軍策劃者因此希望能夠快速催毀指揮及控制那麼伊軍將會很快地崩潰。
The air campaign's third and largest phase targeted military targets throughout Iraq and Kuwait: Scud missile launchers, weapons research facilities, and naval forces. About one-third of the Coalition's air power was devoted to attacking Scuds, some of which were on trucks and therefore difficult to locate. U.S. and British special operations forces had been covertly inserted into western Iraq to aid in the search for and destruction of Scuds. 空中戰役的第三及最大的層面瞄準攻擊在整個伊拉克科威特的軍事目標:飛毛腿導彈,發射架,武器研發設施及海軍武力。約有三分之一的聯軍空中武力投入攻擊飛毛腿導彈,有些導彈是架設在卡車上,因此非常難去查找定位。 美軍及英國特種部隊已先秘密地潛入西伊拉克幫助尋找及摧毀飛毛腿導彈。