View
234
Download
2
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
Iran – Iraq War
1980 - 1988
Beginnings…
Sept. 1980 Iraq invades iran Iraq bombed oil and military targets Saddam Hussien believed iran could be
taken within days b/c of turmoil in iran
Why was there turmoil inside iran in 1980?
Ethnic religious make up
Iran Persian Shi’ite majority
Iraq Arab Shi’ite majority Sizable AND
DOMINANTsunni population as well
Why is the religious and ethnic make up of iran and iraq significant?
Causes of the war
Border clashes in ’79 when Ayatollah Khomeini takes power
Iran encourages Shi’ites in Iraq to rise up against saddam
Iraq wanted Khuzestan province in Iran (oil)
Saddam had ambitions of controlling the region
The World threat
Oil routes threatened by mines 60% of oil used by the west passed
through the strait of hormuz Danger of drawing in other mideast
nations Cold war implications
Oil… it keeps coming up. Why?
Key Targets
Iraq’s initial blitz failed Iranians rallied behind Ayattolah
Khomeini Khomeini told iranians to drive out the
infidels Oil fields destroyed 1million dead by the time the war was
over
Attacks on international shipping
US frigate was hit by an iraqi missile (37 sailors killed)
1987 iran mined persian gulf US warships began mine sweeping and
escorting oil tankers 1987 naval confrontation between us
and iran 1988 us shoots down iranian civilian
airliner (280 killed)
Taking sides
Arab nations – declare neutrality but support iraq (saudi arabia and kuwait lend iraq billions)
Ussr – started out neutral but supported iraq in the end
USA – sided w/ iraq, us supplied saddam with chemical and biological weapons
Recommended