Iran-Iraq War Lecture Notes

Prelude to War

• Date: Began on September 22, 1980
• Initial Expectation: Many believed it would be a quick war reshaping the Middle East.

Influential Contexts

• Iraqi Context:

  • Ba'ath Party Seizure (1968):
    • Installed Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr as President, Saddam Hussein as Vice President.
    • Saddam rose to power, becoming President on July 16, 1979.
    • Saddam's regime was marked by ruthlessness and consolidation of power.
    • Faced challenges due to Iraq's ethnic and religious diversity.
  • Religious Divide: Sunni-dominated party ruling over majority Shia population created tensions.

• Iranian Context:

  • The Shah's Rule:
    • Centralized power and aligned with the West.
    • Iranian Revolution (1978-1979) led to the Shah's ousting.
  • Rise of Ayatollah Khomeini:
    • Advocated theocratic rule, opposed by various factions, leading to internal rebellions.

Saddam's Strategy

• Seize strategic areas (Shat al-Arab waterway, Khuzestan province).
• Believed Iran's internal chaos would aid a swift victory.

War Outbreak

• Initial Invasion (September 22, 1980):
  • Iraq invaded Iran but failed to disable Iran's Air Force.
  • Ground forces initially succeeded but faced resilient Iranian resistance.
• Notable Battles:
  • Battle for Qoramshahr: Intense urban warfare, stalled Iraqi advance.

Initial Phase and Adjustments

• Iran's Resilience:
  • Unified under Khomeini's leadership.
• Saddam's Strategy Shift:
  • Recognized war would be prolonged and adjusted strategies.

Prolonged Conflict

• Operation Nasser (1981): Failed Iranian offensive, led to political turmoil.
• Ongoing Struggles:
  • Iran faced equipment shortages, resorted to unconventional means for supplies.
  • Iraq borrowed heavily to finance continued military actions.

Turning Points

• Iran's Recapture of Abadan (1981):
  • Boosted morale and led to further offensives.
• Operation Undeniable Victory (1982):
  • Effective Iranian offensive, reclaimed territories.
• Operation Ramadan (1982): Failed Iranian attempt to penetrate Iraqi defenses.

Stalemate and Brutality

• Stalemated Frontlines:
  • Use of chemical weapons, attacks on civilians, and child soldiers.
• Iran's Capture of Al-Faw Peninsula (1986):
  • Significant strategic gain for Iran.

War's Conclusion

• Iraqi Counteroffensive (1988):
  • Successfully reclaimed lost territories.
  • Iran and Iraq ceasefire agreement in July 1988.

Aftermath

• Iran:
  • Revolution preserved but suffered significant economic and infrastructural damage.
• Iraq:
  • Regime intact but with unmet goals and crippling debt.

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