As part of Operation Desert Shield to prevent further acts of Iraq after it invaded Kuwait, Iowa-class battleships USS Wisconsin and USS Missouri were pulled out of retirement to provide naval artillery against the Iraqi forces. The military came out with an idea to launch a three-pronged assault where the first one would divert Iraq’s attention and trick them that there was an attack within their shore.
Source: https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/us-battleships-firing-desert-storm/
