Iraq is facing lawsuits claiming billions of dollars in compensation by Kuwait and its allies including the US, for environmental damage caused during the Gulf War. Iraqi troops are alleged to have unloaded millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf waters in January 1991 and set fire to more than 700 oil wells in Kuwait the following month before retreating. These claims were filed by at least 10 nations before the February 1 deadline for filing environmental claims with the UN Compensation Commission. Kuwait has claimed damages worth US $16.3 billion, while the US claim amounts to US $8.8 million.
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