USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR

File: cia_62679_62671_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 1
Subject: USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR  
Not Finally Evaluated Intelligence 
 
TO FACILITATE ELECTRONIC ACCESS, THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN 
REFORMATTED TO ELIMINATE INFORMATION THAT DOES NOT PERTAIN 
TO GULF WAR ILLNESS ISSUES OR THAT IS CLASSIFIED. A COPY OF 
THIS REDACTED DOCUMENT, IN ORIGINAL FORMAT, IS AVAILABLE ON 
REQUEST. 
 
 
SEP 90   DIRECTOR 234009 
 
 
 
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 
 
DIST:    SEPTEMBER 1990 
 
COUNTRY: IRAN/IRAQ 
 
SUBJ: REPORT ON THE USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS DURING THE IRAN-
IRAQ WAR 
 
DOI:  FEBRUARY 1989 
SUMMARY: THIS REPORT CONTAINS FRAGMENTARY INFORMATION ON 
IRAQI USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, AND 
ON IRANIAN USE IN RESPONSE. 
 
TEXT: 1. IRAQ USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS VERY OFTEN DURING THE 
WAR WITH IRAN, DURING EVERY MAJOR DEFENSIVE BATTLE.  FOR 
EXAMPLE, CHEMICAL WEAPONS WERE USED DURING THE BATTLE FOR 
THE CITY OF HALABACHE IN ABOUT AUGUST 1987.  THE CITY HAD 
BEEN CAPTURED BY IRAN, AND IRAQ HAD HEAVILY ATTACKED IT WITH 
CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN AN EFFORT TO RETAKE IT. THE CHEMICAL 
WEAPONS WERE DELIVERED PRIMARILY FROM AIRCRAFT, WERE OF 
AN UNKNOWN TYPE (NOT CLUSTER BOMBS), AND PRODUCED WHITE 
CLOUDS WHICH LOOKED LIKE DENSE SMOKE.  MASS CASUALTIES WERE 
INFLICTED (NO FURTHER INFORMATION).  THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT 
AND THE MILITARY WERE AGREED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO USE 
CHEMICAL WEAPONS, BUT THEY FELT THEY WERE FORCED TO IN 
RETALIATION FOR IRAQI ATTACKS.  IRAN USED CHEMICALS 
ONLY "ONCE OR TWICE," HOWEVER, ON TROOP CONCENTRATIONS, AND 
WITH LITTLE EFFECT. 
 
 
                                                                
ALTHOUGH THIS USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS WAS IN RETALIATION FOR 
IRAQI USE OF SAME, THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVELY 
EXPLOITED THE INCIDENT IN THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA BY 
CONDEMNING THE IRIAF'S EMPLOYMENT OF CHEMICALS AGAINST IRAQI 
TROOPS.) 
 
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