IRAQI CHEMICAL WARFARE TACTICS POLICY AND DOCTRINE

File: 123096_jun96_decls3_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 5

Subject: IRAQI CHEMICAL WARFARE TACTICS POLICY AND DOCTRINE              

Unit: VII CORPS   

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box  ID: BX000203

Folder Title: MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS                                                                            

Document Number:         42

Folder Seq  #:         54




                                                                         5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(1)






                addition, the Iraqis mixed HE and chemical fires In an effort to disguise/mask
                  the chemical fires and increase confusion. The Iraqis have also been known to
                  mix nerve agent and hydrogen cyanide

                                (2)                       Warnings for Iraqi friendly chemical fires
                  are passed in the same manner as chemical weapons release. instructing
                  commanders to prepare their troops for an opposing force chemical attack.
                  When there is insufficient time to execute this process, General Staff HQ
                  bypasses all echelons and notifies frontline troops to expect an opposing
                  forces chemical attack.

                  3. (U) OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE CAPABILITIES.

                          a.                       General. Iraq's CB program probably was
                  Initially developed to counter a perceived Israeli chemical weapons threat.
                  However, the Iraqi program Is now considered the largest capability in the
                  third world. They continue to enhance weapons capabilities and agent
                  stockpiles at an astounding rate. Intelligence sources estimate Iraq's
                  monthly agent production capabilities are on the order of 195 tons. Iraq's
                  defensive capability la significant. They possess a wide array of Soviet
                  individual and unit NBC defense equipment. However, we are unable to
                  determine the quality/ effectiveness of Iraqi Chemical Defense Companies, due
                  to a lack of data.

                         b. (U) Agent Capability.

                                (1)                       Chemical Agents. Listed below are the
                  agents Iraq is known to possess. Mustard was the agent of choice by the
ng their war with Iran. However, all of the agents listed below
                  except VX are believed to have been used during the war. We have also been
                  notified of a potential Iraqi capability to sabotage fuel stocks using nerve
                  agent precursors (Thionyl Chloride and Phosphorous Pentasultide). These
                  compounds are corrosive to key precision engine components, metering
                  mechanisms, injectors and pumps. Quantities as little as 100 parts per
                  million can cause turbine engine failure in two to three hours. One gallon of
                  these chemicals can contaminate      10,000 gallons of  jet fuel.   5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(1)
                                AGENT              3     TYPE             3      PERSISTENCY

                          Sulfur Mustard           3   blister            3   semipersistent
                          Dusty Mustard            3   blister            3   semipersistent
                          Sarin                    3   nerve              3   nonpersistent
                          Tabun                    3   nerve              3   semiperstatent
                          OF                       3   nerve              3   semipersistent
                          vx                       3   nerve              3   persistent
                          Phoagene*                3   choking            3   nonpersistent
                          Phosgene Oxine*          3   blister            3   semipersitent
                          Chlon Cenibol            3   riot control       3   nonpersistent


                                               B-10-H-2

Document 5 f:/Week-23/BX000203/MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS/iraqi chemical warfare tactics policy and doctri:12179611150410
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-23
Box ID = BX000203
Unit = VII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
Folder Seq # = 54
Subject = IRAQI CHEMICAL WARFARE TACTICS POLICY AND DOCTRI
Document Seq # = 42
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996