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Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Ribbon

The Nut Tahrir al-Kuwait (Arabic: نوط تحرير دولة الكويت ) (Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait) was instituted by King Fahd ibn Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign.

The Saudi Arabian version of the Kuwait Liberation Medal is awarded to members of the Coalition Forces who participated in Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait between the dates of January 17, 1991 and February 28, 1991. It is considered the rarer of the two versions of the medal, as it recognizes service in a relatively short period of time (only a few months) whereas the Kuwaiti version of the medal is granted for service over several years. For this reason, the Saudi Arabian Kuwait Liberation Medal is considered senior in precedence to the Kuwaiti version of the medal.

The Saudi version of the Kuwait Liberation Medal consists of a silver star of fifteen rounded points (with shorter rounded points between them) surmounted by a gilt medallion which contains a wreath tied at its based and a crown at its top. In the center of the gilt medallion is a silver representation of the Earth, over which is superimposed a gilt representation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Above the gilt medallion are the crossed swords and palm tree taken from the Royal Cypher. Beneath the gilt medallion is a swallow-tailed scroll with its ends folded back and point upward so they follow the contour of the gilt medallion. On the scroll are the words, LIBERATION OF KUWAIT in English, and the same inscription above it in Arabic.

The ribbon bar to the medal bears a gilt device consisting of crossed swords (point up) superimposed over a palm tree. This device is taken from the Royal Cypher. The device is not used on the suspension ribbon to the actual medal.

The Canadian Government has decreed that the Canadian personnel may accept their medals as a keepsake but permission to wear them in uniform has so far been refused.

Only few of the 45,000 British servicemen have been given permission by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to wear this medal. All others may accept their medals as a keepsake.

Service must have been performed in support of Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait, between 17 January 1991 to 28 February 1991. Eligible areas include:

• The Persian Gulf
• The Red Sea
• That portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude
• The Gulf of Aden
• The total areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates

In addition, those personnel must have:

• Been attached to or regularly serving for one or more days with an organization participating in ground and/or shore operations;
• Been attached to or regularly serving for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations;
• Actually participated as a crew member in one or more aerial flights supporting military operations in the areas designated above; or,
• Served on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days during the qualifying period. Note: That time limitation may be waived for personnel who actually participated in combat operations.

• The Institute of Heraldry:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

• Gulf War Military Awards