1. Iran-Iraq War

2. 6th most lethal war of the 20th Century

3. 1979

5. ↑

6. Pre War Tensions Territorial disputes Shat al Arab Waterway
Iranian Revolution
Encouraging the Shi’ite Arabs to rebel
Iranian presence in the Kurdish North
Instigation of riots in Khuzestan
Attempted assassination of Tariq Aziz gives Iraq the necessary excuse to invade

7. Iraq Iran Resources 200,000 soldiers, 2,000 tanks and 450 aircraft
33 Billion$
Loans from Kuwait and SA
Extensive US aid, Sale of weapons
Officer purges: 85 senior generals 12,000 officers
60% desertion
Lack of spare parts for US made equipment
1000 tanks 200 aircraft

9. Shat al Arab Waterway

10. Iraq Ethnic and Sectarian Divisions

11. Foreign Aid
Iraq directly supported with arms and finances by Kuwait, SA, US
US, China, Brazil, USSR, major sales of weapons to both
Israel supports Iran

12. Iran – Contra Affair
Began as an operation to free 7 American hostages in Lebanon held by Hezbollah
US agrees to sell arms to Iran
Israel would ship weapons to Iran, United States would resupply Israel and receive the Israeli payment. The Iranian recipients promised to help with release of hostages.
Profits diverted to fund anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua
5 of 7 hostages eventually released

13. Trench Warfare
Iraq initially makes gains into Khuzestan but is unable to advance.
Khuzestan Arabs remain loyal to Iran
1982 Iran regroups and retakes lost territory
Iraq takes a defensive position and offers truce
Iran refuses truce and initiates human wave assaults

14. 1984 New Tactics
Iraq attacks Iranian and 3rd country oil tankers leaving Iranian ports
Iraq bombs Iranian cities to destroy morale
February 1984, 12,000 Iranian civilian casualties
Iraq begins use of chemical weapons
Iran closes straights of Hormuz to Iraqi and Kuwaiti shipping
Iran makes an alliance with the Kurds

15. International Community
In order to ensure free movement of oil foreign powers attempt to protect shipping in the Persian Gulf
It became increasingly evident that the world was not going to allow Iran to win the war.

16. Outcomes War ends 20 July 1988 500,000 Deaths
Exclusive Iraqi sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway
Hussein surrendered that gain in need of Iran’s neutrality in anticipation of the 1991 Gulf War.

17. Weapons of Mass Destruction
US exported $500 million of dual use exports to Iraq
Among them were advanced computers, some of which were used in Iraq's nuclear program.
The non-profit American Type Culture Collection and the Centers for Disease Control sold or sent biological samples of anthrax, West Nile virus and botulism to Iraq up until 1989

18. Operation Anfal
Campaign against the Kurdish population of northern Iraq 1986 – 1989
Halabja Massacre March 16, 1988, Iraqi attempt to repel the Iranian and Kurdish forces. 7,000 to 10,000 casualties mostly civilians.
Thousands more died of, diseases, and birth defects after
Largest chemical weapons attack directed against a civilian-population in history