Baghdad argues that its invasion of iran in september 1980. He assesses the wars military lessons regarding such key areas as strategy, tactics and escalation and in particular the use of nonconventional weapons, finally, he examines the. The group has been expanding its territory since it. Irans vital national interests could be helped by ending the standoff with the united states. The iran iraq war can also be seen to be a extension of the arabpersian conflict over leadership in the middle east. Although iraq won the war militarily, and possessed a significant military advantage over iran in 1989, the 1991 persian gulf war reduced iraqs capabilities to a point where a rough parity now exists between iran and iraqconditions similar to those found in 1980. The causes of iran iraq conflicts can be attributed to wide range of issues political causeshistorical claims of territory, shatt al arab waterway dispute and result of six day war economic causes occupying of khuzestan, religious cultural causes cultural differences between iran and iraq and results of the iranian revolution long term. According to iran and most observers, iraq was the aggressor. The iraniraq war of 1980 to 1988 was a grinding, bloody, and in the end, completely pointless conflict. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Relations with iran had grown increasingly strained after the shah was overthrown in 1979. Pdf geopolitical origins of the iraniraq war researchgate. During this war iran was not only attacking iraq but also attacking oil tankers from kuwait at sea too. It was sparked by the iranian revolution, led by ayatollah ruhollah khomeini, which overthrew shah pahlavi in 197879.
Iraniraq war 1980 88 iran and iraq entered into a period of war stretching over 198088, basically known as the persian gulf war. Iraniraq war 198088, prolonged military conflict between iran and iraq. As described in more detail in the narratives, the causes of the iraniraq war are. The iraniraq war was a long and bloody struggle from 1980 to 1988 that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. The iraniraq war is one of the largest, yet least documented conflicts in the history of the middle east. Published by the institute for defense analysis alexandria, va in conjunction with the national defense universitys conflict records research center, washington d. Iraniraq relations before the war the shah of iran believed that iraq and the soviet union were irans primary threats. Estimates of total casualties range from 000 to twice that number. Iranian soldier wearing protective gas mask against iraqi chemical attacks top right. This research paper discusses and analyzes the causes, course and consequences of the war between iran and iraq. Iran if you wish to be brothers, drop your weapons. Pope john paul ii in 1988, the united states launched operation praying mantis against iran, claiming that it was retaliation for the iranian mining of areas of the persian gulf as part of the iraniraq war. Iraq frequently used the defense in depth method where it would allow iranian troops to assault a position and sustain heavy casualties before falling back to a secondary defensive line.
Iraniraq war if the question intends to ask about the iraniraq war of 19801988, several causes of that war include. Williamson murray is professor emeritus at the ohio state university and senior fellow at ida. The iraniraq war can also be seen to be a extension of the arabpersian conflict over leadership in the middle east. The causes of iran iraq conflicts can be attributed to wide range of issues political causes historical claims of territory, shatt al arab waterway dispute and result of six day war economic causes occupying of khuzestan, religious cultural causes cultural differences between iran and iraq and results of the iranian revolution long term. The then iraqi leader saddam hussein claimed as a reason for the invasion a territorial dispute over the shatt alarab, the waterway which forms the boundary between the two countries. Beirut, 2011many factors went into the decision of united states leaders to engage in war with iraq in 2003. Theories of conflict and the iraq war daniel lieberfeld.
Causes of the iraniraq war 198088 flashcards quizlet. This activity is designed to enable your students to evaluate, analyse and link the causes of the iran iraq war. New weapons, old conflicts, edited by shirin tahirkheli and shaheen ayubi new york. The iraniraq war is primarily the result of a conflict between the goals and ambitions of saddam. Bush, who announced the commencement of the war in march 2003, explained that the goals were to free the iraqi people and claimed that the iraq government had weapons of mass destruction. Parts of the conflict go back to the split in islam following the death of the prophet muhammad as iran was eager to spread shia islam to the rest of the middle east, but the conflict is not typically characterized as a religious war, mainly because there is little evidence to. The first gulf war, better known as the iraqiran war the imposed war, as the iranian authorities came to call it was one of the longest and most atrocious interstate conflicts since the end of world war ii.
Iraniraq war 1 iraniraq war the iraniraq war, also known as the imposed war, jangetahmili and holy defense. Iraniraq war causes and effects by rebecca abelson on prezi. Wanted access to shatt alarab waterway and persian gulf and to capture some of irans oil fields. Iraniraq war caused an enormous ecomomic, military and social problems to both iran and iraq. By then there was already unambiguous evidence indicating the urgency of defusing the imminent danger posed by iraq and its primary allies in the growing terrorist conspiracy. Causes and consequences of the iraniraq war 198088. What were the causes and consequences of the iraniraq war. Since the war, the deception practiced by the bush administration has been exposed. Iraniraq war, 198088, prolonged military conflict between iran and iraq during the 1980s. Causes and consequences of the iraniraq war, 198088 gcse and igcse history revision, the gulf 19702000 this revision podcast is relevant to both gcse and igcse history students, although as and ib students may find it a helpful introduction to events.
The war which was initiated by iraq, brought in its wake colossal damages for the bellicose neighbors viz, the. Cordesman, the iraniraq war and western security 198487. Likewise, the united states has more to gain than lose if it adopts a more coherent and pragmatic policy toward the islamic republic. The causes and effects of the the iraniraq war essay. Civil war theory and the causes of the iraq civil war, 20062008. On the general level, war can be an occasional outburst of a deeprooted historical conflict. The iraqiran war 1980 1988 on 22 september 1980, iraqi troops invaded iran, starting a war that would last for eight years. Irans islamic revolution of 1979 was a big and unpleasant surprise to pretty much every government that cared, especially to the west, which lost an important ally the shah. Iran iraq conflict causes and consequences 198088 introduction.
The causes and consequences of the iraq war politics essay. Iran s islamic revolution of 1979 was a big and unpleasant surprise to pretty much every government that cared, especially to the west, which lost an important ally the shah. Iraqi president saddam hussein, who despised the shah, welcomed this change, but his joy turned to alarm when the ayatollah. Ayatollah khomeini has been replaced by ayatollah khameini, who appears to be. Participation of a child soldier on the iranian front top left. Iraq had about potential to produce big volumes of oil than it was producing prior to the invasion. In 2015, isis militants clinged to key territories across iraq and expanded their hold in syria. Territorial issues, including the shatt alarab boundary and five other zones, were a direct cause of contention. Saddam hussein declared war on iran, thinking that it would be easily defeated but lasted 8 years in fact. To support the ending of the war kuwait financially aided. He declared war on iran because ayatollah khomeini called for the overthrow of saddams baath regime in iraq.
The government justifies the war by saying that since iraq has violated resolutions 660, 661, 678, 686, 687 and 688, and is. Drawing from an extensive cache of captured iraqi government records, this book is the first comprehensive military and strategic account of the war through the lens of the iraqi regime and its senior military commanders. Iraniraq conflict causes and consequences 198088 introduction. During the eight years between iraqs formal declaration of war on september 22, 1980, and irans acceptance of a ceasefire with effect on july 20, 1988, at the very least half a. Several years after the arab oil embargo, seeing another major oil exp. This conflict began when iraq invaded iran in 1980 followed by border disputes and irqs desire to become dominant persian gulf state and the iranian revolution at that time. Causes and consequences of the iraniraq war, 198088. Thus, the war in a sense no winner, and both countries suffered from the war.
The iraniraq war was not a stalemate in the same way that many think of the western front during world war i, but still featured the use of trench warfare. Such a conflict may arise from ethnic, national, or religious enmity, from. It occurred as a result of major political changes in. Open warfare began on september 22, 1980, when iraqi armed forces invaded western iran along the countries joint border, though iraq claimed that the war had begun earlier that month, on september 4, when iran shelled a number of border posts. An examination of trends in relations during the iraniraq war itself is an essential part of any attempt to understand post1988 patterns, from the ceasefire through to. The war began on september 22, 1980 when saddam hussein ordered an invasion on iran, beginning and eight year chain of chaos and destruction. Port quarter view of uss stark listing to port after being mistakenly struck by an iraqi warplane middle left. Parts of the conflict go back to the split in islam following the death of the prophet muhammad as iran was eager to spread shia islam to the rest of the middle east, but the conflict is not typically characterized as a religious war, mainly because there is little evidence.
If a primary incentive for war was to demonstrate resolve to enemies and allies, then this could not be as easily done against north korea or iran, which, due partly to their more advanced weaponry, were much more difficult targets for. The years consisted of over one million deaths and many failed attempts at peace. Pdf civil war theory and the causes of the iraq civil. Iran and iraq war the war between iraq and iran was a war between two rival states with different religiousfundamental views, ethnic backgrounds, historical ethnic and border tensions, and powerhungry national leadership who were striving for the position as the dominant persian gulf state iraniraq war 19801988. In november 1971, iran occupied three islands belonging to united arab. Ruhollah khomeini, the spiritual leader of the iranian revolution, proclaimed his policy of. Part of the arabiranian conflict and persian gulf conflicts. The causes and effects of the the iraniraq war 910. The causes of the gulf war actually started when iraq was at war with iran. During the eight years between iraq s formal declaration of war on september 22, 1980, and iran s acceptance of a ceasefire with effect on july 20, 1988, at the very least half a million and.