History quiz

What was the Iran-Iraq War like?

Early stages: September 1980 - June 1982

- Iraq launched a surprise attack on Iran, capturing much of the Iranian province of Khuzestan.

- Iran countered with a series of human wave attacks, but was unable to retake the territory.

- The war reached a bloody stalemate, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

Intermediate stage: June 1982 - July 1988

- Iran launched a series of successful offensives, retaking most of the territory lost to Iraq.

- Iraq responded with chemical weapons attacks, including mustard gas and cyanide, against Iranian troops and civilian areas.

- The international community condemned Iraq's use of chemical weapons, but did not take any concrete steps to stop the war.

Later stage: July 1988 - August 1988

- Iraq launched a major offensive, capturing the Iranian cities of Mehran and Dezful.

- Iran retaliated with a series of attacks on Iraqi oil tankers and other economic targets.

- The war ended in a stalemate, with both sides agreeing to a ceasefire on August 20, 1988.

The Iran-Iraq War was a bloody and destructive conflict that resulted in the deaths of over 1 million people. The war also had a devastating impact on the economies and infrastructure of both countries, and led to a sharp increase in regional tensions.