September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
On September 22, 1980, Iraqi warplanes screamed over the Iranian Plateau. The men in every cockpit checked their list of targets, expecting their strikes to be the opening salvo of a quick war that would reshape the Middle East. It was not a quick war, but it indeed reshaped the region.
The Iran-Iraq War was greatly influenced by two key revolutions:
The Ba’ath Party, blending socialism, anti-imperialism, and Arab nationalism, installed Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr as president with Saddam Hussein as vice president. Over a decade, Saddam rose to power, becoming president on July 16, 1979. His rule commenced with the execution of 22 party members, signaling the ruthlessness that would define his regime. Despite harsh methods to quell opposition, his position remained vulnerable.
Key Challenges:
By 1979, Iran was in disarray. The Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, had centralized power, embarking on extensive industrialization and westernization. His alignment with the West and his repressive regime fueled widespread discontent, culminating in the chaotic Iranian Revolution of 1978-1979. Despite internal divisions, many united behind Ruhollah Khomeini, a Shia cleric later known globally as the Ayatollah.
Khomeini advocated for theocratic rule, believing only an imam chosen by God was a legitimate leader. This vision faced opposition, leading to rebellions, including in the oil-rich Arab majority province of Khuzestan. Amid the chaos, Saddam Hussein saw both danger and opportunity.
Saddam’s Strategy:
By the summer of 1980, as various Iranian factions squabbled for power, Saddam was preparing for war. On June 1980, aerial intelligence was collected over Iran. By early September, the Iraqi military had seized two disputed villages along the border. On September 22, 1980, Iraq invaded Iran. The offensive did not go as planned:
Initial Failures:
On the ground, Iraqi Army units initially fared better. They crossed the Shatt al-Arab Waterway, advancing along three fronts across the Iran-Iraq border. The local Iranian units were caught off guard, unprepared, and inadequately equipped for the Iraqi advancement. By late 1980, Iran’s military faced significant challenges internally.
Iranian resistance, notably in the southern city of Khorramshahr, stalled the Iraqi offensive. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Iranian forces engaged in intense urban warfare, effectively bogging down the Iraqis.
Important Moments:
Contrary to Saddam’s expectations, the invasion unified Iranians under Khomeini’s leadership. Facing an external threat, Iranians rallied to Khomeini’s call to defend Islam and the Revolution. Recognizing the conflict wouldn’t be brief, Saddam adjusted his strategy. As Iraqi forces besieged Khuzestan, both nations prepared for a protracted war.
In January 1981, Iran shifted from defense to offense with Operation Nasser, targeting Iraqi siege lines near Dezful. Despite their skill and being equipped with M60 and Chieftain tanks, Iranian forces couldn’t break through, resulting in heavy losses. This failure plunged Iran into political turmoil.
Challenges Faced:
As turmoil continued in Iran, Khomeini’s faction, backed by the army, consolidated more power. Iran resorted to cannibalizing parts from its sophisticated equipment to maintain its military capabilities and discreetly obtained munitions from nations like the United States and Israel.
Conversely, Iraq faced fewer constraints in rearming and sourced arms from various countries including the Soviet Union, France, and Greece. However, this was costly for Iraq. With declining oil revenues due to the war, Saddam borrowed heavily, up to $1 billion monthly from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
In September 1981, Iran aimed to recapture Abadan, taking the Iraqis by surprise and securing significant equipment. This success boosted Iranian morale, leading to further offensives.
Notable Achievements:
In March 1982, Iran launched Operation Undeniable Victory, emulating World War I tactics. Despite heavy casualties, the offensive was effective, leading to the recapture of Dezful and over 15,000 Iraqi prisoners.
Key Outcomes:
With Iranian territory largely liberated, Ayatollah Khomeini expanded his war goals, now seeking regime change in Iraq, specifically targeting Saddam Hussein to be tried as a war criminal.
Iraq fortified around Basra and its oil fields with a defense system dubbed the Iron Ring. In July 1982, Iran tested these defenses with Operation Ramadan, launching an offensive with 990,000 troops, but were eventually stopped.
Operations and Impacts:
Despite setbacks, Iran remained resolute. They initiated a series of offensives against Iraqi defenses, resulting in a stalemate with neither side gaining substantial ground. To break the deadlock, both nations resorted to more unconventional and increasingly inhumane tactics, including the widespread use of chemical weapons, attacks on civilians, and the use of child soldiers.
Sensitive Issues:
By 1985, the prolonged conflict had drained both Iran and Iraq, leaving them unable to launch major offensives. However, a dramatic shift occurred in June 1986 when Iran captured the Al-Faw Peninsula, denying Iraq sea access and posing a threat to Basra.
In 1987, Iran launched Operation Karbala 5, aiming to seize Basra and accelerate Saddam’s downfall. They rapidly advanced into Basra’s suburbs but met fierce resistance. Through intense combat and extensive use of mustard gas, Iraq halted the Iranian onslaught, turning it into a grueling three-month siege.
The tide turned with Iraq’s Operation Blessed Ramadan beginning on April 17, 1988. At dawn, Iraqi artillery units bombarded Iranian positions. Following this, up to 100,000 Iraqi soldiers attacked the Al-Faw Peninsula, ousting Iranians and marking one of the war’s quickest reversals. Iraq escalated the operation, eventually driving Iranian forces out of its territory.
In July 1988, Iran and Iraq agreed to cease hostilities, returning to pre-war borders after nearly eight years of brutal conflict and the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. Both nations claimed victory, but the consequences were complex and enduring.
The aftermath had deep ramifications for both nations:
Though the war concluded, it set the stage for continued conflict in the Middle East, with unresolved territorial disputes and deep political grievances.
The Iran-Iraq War: A conflict that began with ambitions of quick victory but ended with profound and lasting impacts on both nations and the broader Middle Eastern region.
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September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
September 21, 2024 | by Unboxify
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