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→Chemical Warfare
The war was marked by [[Saddam Hussein]]'s use of [[chemical weapons|chemical]] weapons against Iran and Kurdish populations in northern Iraq. The first use of chemical weapons was during an Iranian assault of Basra in 1982. The weapons were non-lethal, but succeeded in turning back an entire Iranian division. Subsequent attacks by the Iraqi forces involved mustard gas, nerve agents, and cyanide. Chemical attacks achieved varied levels of success during the war.<ref>The Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988, by Efraim Karsh, Osprey Publishing, 2002</ref>
The war was marked by [[Saddam Hussein]]'s use of [[chemical weapons|chemical]] weapons against Iran and Kurdish populations in northern Iraq. The first use of chemical weapons was during an Iranian assault of Basra in 1982. The weapons were non-lethal, but succeeded in turning back an entire Iranian division. Subsequent attacks by the Iraqi forces involved mustard gas, nerve agents, and cyanide. Chemical attacks achieved varied levels of success during the war.<ref>The Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988, by Efraim Karsh, Osprey Publishing, 2002</ref>
In 1987 and 1988, chemical weapons, including mustard gas, tabun nerve gas, and cyanide, were released on civilian populations in Kurdistan in punitive attacks to supress Kurdish rebels and prevent them from collaborating with the Iranian forces. The attacks killed thousands and turned hundreds of thousands of Kurds into refugees.
In 1987 and 1988, chemical weapons, including mustard gas, tabun nerve gas, and cyanide, were released on civilian populations in Kurdistan in punitive attacks to supress Kurdish rebels and prevent them from collaborating with the Iranian forces. The attacks killed thousands and turned hundreds of thousands of Kurds into refugees.[http://www.kdp.se/old/chemical.html]
As far as is known, Iranian forces never deployed chemical weapons, partly because the Iranians had nowhere near the capability the Iraqis had, and partly because Iran was hoping for a propaganda victory and international condemnation of the Iraqi government. Western response, however, was generally muted.
As far as is known, Iranian forces never deployed chemical weapons, partly because the Iranians had nowhere near the capability the Iraqis had, and partly because Iran was hoping for a propaganda victory and international condemnation of the Iraqi government. Western response, however, was generally muted.