(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Iraqi-Iranian war will mark its 27th conclusion anniversary on Thursday August 20, a war that had killed thousands and destroyed the two countries on many levels.
The eight-year war which ended on August 20 1988, was the longest and one of the bloodiest in the history of the Middle East. The war spark had started 17 September 1980, when former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein had announced the annulment of the 1975 Algiers Agreement signed with Iran regarding dispute over borders and declared Shatt Al-Arab waterway an Iraqi territory.
On September 22, Iraqi warplanes launched attacks on Iranian sites including eight airbases, four airports and military bases in Tehran, prompting the Iranians to strike the Iraqi capital Baghdad back on September 23.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Army had invaded Iran by land on October 8 of the same year and targeted Khuzestan Province, and on October 11 they had crossed the Karun river.
On October 24, the strategic Iranian city of Khorramshahr fell under Iraqi control, as the UN Security Council called on the two countries to sign a ceasefire agreement, a request refused by the Iranian side.
By the end of October, Iraq had seized a large space of the Iranian border territories, stretching over 800 km. Meanwhile, the Iranian side had raided Iraq on land in January 1982, crossing the Karkh River.
On May 29, Iraq had attacked and seized Dehloran city in central Iran, before withdrawing after 24 hours. On June 7, Iranian airforce attacked Iraq's nuclear plant near Baghdad and completely destroyed it.
Iran was able to end the siege on Abadan in September, forcing Iraqi forces withdraw beyond the Karkh River, while on May 26, 1982, Iranian Army had liberated Khorramshahr. The Iraqi government had requested a ceasefire agreement on June 20 and announced the withdrawal of its army from Iran within ten days, however, Iran had refused the proposal.
On July 13, Iraq had attacked Basra, Iraq's second largest provinces, in an operation entitled (Ramadan). The Iranian Army was able to invade about 20 km into the country. However, Iraq pushed the Iranian forces back the day after and liberated the invaded cities.
Iran continued its attack on land on Iraq between February 7 and June 23 1983, seizing towns and cities including the Kurds' lands in the north. Iraq had faced these offensives by using the nerve gas for the first time - a weapon banned by the international law.
By the end of 1983, the human losses were estimated at 120,000 for Iran and 60,000 for Iraq. The war continued, as the Iranian side had executed several military operations between 15 February 1984 and 11 March 1985, moving further in the country and taking control over different parts.
Iraq had executed a counter attack on March 18 of the same year, regaining control over its invaded cities, as the two sides suffered huge losses.
The Iraqis had attacked oil reserves on Kharg Island in Iran on August 15, while also attacking and controlled Majnoon Island on January 6 1986.
On July 20, the Security Council had condemned the Iraqi and Iranian attacks, calling on both sides to sign an immediate ceasefire agreement and to follow the previously signed international border markings.
In February 1987, Iran attacked and controlled Al-Faw Peninsula in southern Iraq. In July, the Security Council, after spending six months holding talks, had issued an article to end the war and go under negotiations.
Iraq was able to liberate Al-Faw on April 17 1988 on the first day of the month of Ramadan. After two days, Iraq also liberated several cities in Basra. Moreover, Iraqi forces regained control over Kurdish lands in June.
On August 20, the two sides had finally agreed to UN's article number 598 on an immediate ceasefire, following international border lines and holding talks.
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