On 22 September 1980, the Iraqi Ba’thi regime started a protracted arm conflict with Iran with invading Iran’s western and southwestern provinces. The war lasted for almost 8 years. As a result of the war, hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives, many of whom were civilians.
On 22 September 1980, the Iraqi Ba’thi regime started a protracted arm conflict with Iran with invading Iran’s western and southwestern provinces. The war lasted for almost 8 years. As a result of the war, hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives, many of whom were civilians.
Believing that the Iranian newly established Islamic Revolution did not have a chance to resist the well-equipped Iraqi army, and relying on the extensive support the Iraqi regime received from United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France, and most Arab countries, Saddam Hussein started an all-out war, which, he thought, would bring him a decisive victory in a few days.
Saddam did not know that the Iranian nation led by Imam Khomeini would fight tooth and nail to keep their land and sovereignty. During World War I, the Iranian army, which was claimed to be the strongest in the region, could not prevent foreign invasion and the British forces entered Iran from the south and the USSR army from the north of the country. The same nation, however, reinvigorated by Islamic teachings presented and reminded to them by Imam Khomeini, fought empty-handedly for 8 years and not only did push the Iraqi forces behind the pre-war borders; rather, embarked on offensive attacks against Saddam’s forces.
Being under severe oppressive and inhuman sanctions, Iran could not import even barbed wire while on the other side, Saddam’s regime was provided with all kinds of financial, political and logistical support from the US, western and some Arab countries. For example, Germany provided the Ba’thi regime with chemical weapons which were used by the Ba’thi regime against armed forces as well as civilians. Thousands of people are still suffering the consequences of the Ba’athi’s use of chemical weapons.
Its very ironic that despite being supporters of a dictator and warmonger like Saddam Hussein who killed thousands of people, the US and its allies among western and Arab countries accuse Iran of supporting terrorism and violation of human rights.