When did the Iran and Iraq war end?

Henry Cooper | 2023-06-13 12:20:51 | page views:1817
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Zoe Mitchell

Studied at the University of Manchester, Lives in Manchester, UK.
As an expert in Middle Eastern history, I can provide a detailed account of the conclusion of the Iran-Iraq War. The conflict, which began on September 22, 1980, was a prolonged military engagement fueled by a complex interplay of territorial disputes, religious differences, and political tensions. The war officially ended with a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on August 20, 1988, following the issuance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 598.

The roots of the conflict can be traced back to longstanding border disputes, particularly over the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which forms the border between Iran and Iraq. This waterway is of strategic importance as it provides Iraq's only maritime access to the Persian Gulf. The Algiers Agreement of 1975 had temporarily resolved the issue by reducing Iraqi control over the waterway in exchange for Iran withdrawing support for a Kurdish insurgency in Iraq.

However, the situation escalated with the Iranian Revolution in 1978-79, which led to the rise of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to power. This revolution and the subsequent shift in Iran's political landscape alarmed Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq, who feared the spread of Iran's revolutionary fervor to Iraq's Shi'ite majority. Saddam also sought to capitalize on Iran's military weakness following the revolution and to overturn the Algiers Agreement.

The war began with a full-scale invasion by Iraqi forces, who initially made significant territorial gains, including the capture of the city of Khorramshahr. However, the tide turned as Iran's military, bolstered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), mounted a successful counteroffensive. By 1982, Iran had managed to reclaim most of the lost territory.

Despite Iraq's attempts to seek peace and withdraw to pre-war border lines, Iran, under Khomeini's leadership, refused to accept peace and continued the war with the aim of toppling Saddam's regime. This led to a series of offensives and counter-offensives, with both sides suffering heavy casualties and the conflict devolving into a stalemate.

The war took a devastating toll on both nations, with estimates of casualties ranging from 1 to 2 million, including both military personnel and civilians. The use of chemical weapons by Iraq against Iranian troops and Kurdish civilians further compounded the humanitarian crisis.

The turning point came in 1988 when Iraq launched a series of successful offensives, which, coupled with Iran's demoralization from its failed offensives, convinced Iran's clerical leaders of the futility of continuing the war. The acceptance of UN Resolution 598 by both nations led to a formal ceasefire, marking the end of the conflict.

The legacy of the Iran-Iraq War is marked by its immense human cost and the devastation it wrought on the region. It also set the stage for future conflicts in the region, including the Persian Gulf War and the rise of extremist groups like the Islamic State.

In conclusion, the Iran-Iraq War, a conflict that spanned nearly eight years and resulted in a significant loss of life and regional instability, officially ended with a ceasefire on August 20, 1988. The war's aftermath continues to influence the political and social landscape of the Middle East to this day.


2024-05-26 13:10:34

Isabella Bailey

Studied at the University of Toronto, Lives in Toronto, Canada.
September 22, 1980 -C August 20, 1988Iran-CIraq War/PeriodsSearch for: When did the Iran and Iraq war end?
2023-06-23 12:20:51

Ethan White

QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
September 22, 1980 -C August 20, 1988Iran-CIraq War/PeriodsSearch for: When did the Iran and Iraq war end?
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