"The Iran-Iraq War: A Transformative Conflict Shaping the Middle East"
,
by Unboxify,
7 min reading time
The Iran-Iraq War: A Conflict That Redefined the Middle East
🌅 A Conflict Ignites: The Prelude to War
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.
📜 Influences Leading to the Conflict
The Iran-Iraq War was greatly influenced by two key revolutions:
The Ba'ath Party's seizure of power in Iraq on July 17, 1968
The 1979 Iranian Revolution, which saw the fall of the Shah
🏛️ The Rise of Saddam Hussein
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:
Significant non-Arab populations, especially the Kurds
Religious divide due to Iraq's majority Shia Muslim population, governed by a predominantly Sunni regime
✝️ The Iranian Revolution: A Theocratic Shift
⚔️ The Fall of the Shah
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.
🚩 Challenges from Within and Without
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:
Claiming the Shatt al-Arab Waterway
Seizing Iran's Arab majority Khuzestan Province
🚀 The War Begins: Operation Scorched Earth
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:
Iraqi aircraft failed to achieve decisive results
Iran destroyed about 30 Iraqi planes, gradually gaining air superiority
⚔️ Ground Warfare: The Regional Struggle Intensifies
🔫 Early Iraqi Gains and Setbacks
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.
⚠️ Unexpected Iranian Resistance
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:
Intense urban warfare in Khorramshahr
Unexpectedly strong Iranian resistance
🌍 Unity and Mobilization: Iran Holds Its Ground
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.
🛡️ Operation Nasser: Iran’s Counteroffensive
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:
Loss of hundreds of Iranian tanks and armed vehicles
Internal political conflict akin to civil war
🎚️ Rebalancing Power Amid Chaos
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.
⚙️ External Support and Re-arming
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.
🔄 The War's Changing Dynamics: Military Offensives and Territorial Gains
⛽ Iran's Strategic Victories
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:
Capture of 60 armored vehicles, five 155mm artillery pieces, and 150 other vehicles
Boosted morale for Iran
🏅 Operation Undeniable Victory
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:
Recapture of Dezful
Capture of over 15,000 Iraqi prisoners
⚔️ Shift in War Goals
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.
🔒 The Stalemate and Brutality: The War Escalates
🛡️ Fortification: Iraq’s Iron Ring Defense
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:
Iran's penetration of 10 miles into Iraq
Repelled Iranian assaults by 70,000 Iraqi defenders
🔄 The Protracted Stalemate
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:
Chemical weapon attacks
Use of child soldiers
🚨 The War's Endgame: Toward Finality
👥 Exhaustion and Strategic Shifts
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.
🎯 Operation Karbala 5: Iran’s Push Towards 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.
🤜 Iraq Strikes Back: Operation Blessed Ramadan
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.
🛑 Conclusion: The Aftermath and Legacy
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.
📉 Economic and Political Toll
The aftermath had deep ramifications for both nations:
Massive economic losses in Iran
Destruction across Iran
Saddam Hussein's regime remaining intact but burdened with debt
🌍 Continued Regional Conflict
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.