Chemical Warfare :: Holy Defence free online Encyclopedia

Chemical Warfare

Written by: Neda Morad Translated by: Hadi Qorbanyar
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Iraq’ s use of chemical weapons against Iranian forces during the Iran– Iraq War came to be known as chemical warfare.

War is a hostile military operation⁠[1] and takes different forms. Chemical warfare is one of them, involving weapons that contain chemical agents.⁠[2] These agents are compounds that cause lethal, harmful, or disabling effects on humans, animals, plants, or objects. They include incapacitating agents like CS tear gas, blister agents such as mustard gas, lethal nerve agents, lung‑damaging choking agents, and blood agents.⁠[3] Because of their high killing power and devastating environmental impact, such weapons are classified as unconventional, and their production and use were banned under the 1925 Geneva Protocol.⁠[4]

The first large‑scale use of chemical weapons occurred on April 27, 1915, during World War I, when German forces released 168 tons of chlorine gas near Ypres in Belgium, killing 6000 Allied soldiers. That day became known as the “ birth of modern chemical warfare”. By the end of the war, over a million people had been killed or injured by chemical weapons. This led nations of the world to sign an agreement in Geneva on June 17, 1925, banning the use of biological and chemical weapons, asphyxiating gases, toxic gases, and other bacteriological methods of warfare.

Although chemical weapons were not used in World War II, Iraq later obtained significant amounts of chemical agents and materials from Soviet Union, some European governments, and the United States.⁠[5] Iraq had already begun developing chemical weapons in the 1960s,⁠[6] and from 1982 onward used them sporadically against Iran.⁠[7]

In early August (on the 8th and 9th), as well as in late October and late December of 1983, Iraqi aircraft dropped mustard gas bombs on several villages near Piranshahr in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, and on the Shiler plain inside Iraq — an area that had recently been cleared during Operation Valfajr 4.⁠[8]

Also, on October 27 and 30, 1983, Iraq attacked Baneh in Kurdistan Province and the surrounding villages with mustard gas.⁠[9] In February 22, 1984, during Operation Kheibar in the Hoor al-Hoveyzeh,⁠[10] Iraq used the nerve agent Tabun, killing and injuring many Iranian troops.⁠[11] From then on, Iran established a separate medical system for chemical casualties, from frontline emergency care to rear hospitals.⁠[12]

After the Kheibar attack, Iran requested UN investigations. The first UN fact‑finding mission issued a statement on March 30, 1984, urging both sides to respect the 1925 Geneva Protocol, without naming Iraq. But Iraq continued using chemical weapons, including in Operation Badr in March 1985.⁠[13] The second report of the UN mission on Iraq’ s use of chemical weapons against Iran was submitted to the UN Secretary-General after this operation.⁠[14]

Between late September 1984 and early winter 1985, Iraq used chemical weapons with restraint.⁠[15] However, after Operation Valfajr 8, which began on February 9, 1986, and resulted in the liberation of Al-Faw,⁠[16] chemical attacks were carried out on a massive scale.⁠[17]

Some of the chemically injured Iranians were sent to Germany, Spain, Austria, and Sweden for medical treatment and care. As a result, news of Iraq’ s chemical attacks spread around the world and drew global reactions.⁠[18] The first group of chemical casualties was sent to Sweden on February 17 of that year.⁠[19]

Following Iraq’ s chemical attacks during Operation Valfajr 8, the third group of UN experts was dispatched to Al-Faw. They submitted a report to the UN Security Council confirming Iraq’ s use of mustard gas and nerve agents. In its statement on March 21, 1986, the Security Council for the first time explicitly named Iraq as the user of chemical weapons against Iran.⁠[20]

By early March 1987, more than 7,000 artillery shells and mortar rounds containing toxic substances had been fired at Iranian forces in the Valfajr 8 operational area.⁠[21] It was also from this year that Iraq began producing biological weapons.⁠[22]

Between 1983 and 1986, the Iraqi army carried out more than 230 chemical attacks on Iranian military positions, rear areas, cities, villages, and civilian regions. These attacks caused around 44,000 casualties, including both martyrs and injured.⁠[23]

On April 10– 11, 1987, the Khorramshahr water treatment plant was targeted by Katyusha rockets carrying nerve gas.⁠[24] A few days later, on April 16, the villages of Aloot and Kandeh near Baneh in Kurdistan Province were attacked with mustard gas bombs.⁠[25] From April 4 to June 5, 1987, Kurdish-controlled villages in Erbil Province, Iraq, were also hit by Iraqi forces using mustard gas.⁠[26]

After repeated Iraqi attacks, the fourth UN expert team visited Iran in May 1987. Despite the report they submitted, the Security Council took no practical action to stop Iraq’ s crimes.⁠[27]

Iraq attacked the city of Sardasht in southwestern West Azerbaijan Province with mustard gas on June 28, 1987.⁠[28] It caused the martyrdom of 110 people and injuries to around 8,000 others. The next day, the nearby village of Galeh-vash was also bombed with six mustard gas munitions.⁠[29] Despite Iran’ s repeated requests, no UN mission was sent to investigate the incident.⁠[30]

After the successful Operation Valfajr 10, which took place on March 14, 1988, in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq,⁠[31] the Baathist regime carried out a massive chemical attack on Halabja, killing and injuring thousands of its residents. Following this tragedy, the UN Security Council issued Resolution 612, condemning the use of chemical weapons without naming Iraq as the perpetrator.⁠[32]

On August 26, 1988, the Security Council passed Resolution 620, which officially recognized Iran as a victim of chemical weapons in the war.⁠[33]

Throughout the Iran-Iraq War, more than 100,000 Iranians were injured, and 3,500 were martyred as a result of Iraq’ s chemical attacks.⁠[34] After the war, the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs has provided ongoing support to 45,000 chemical warfare victims in three main areas: medical treatment and rehabilitation, health and preventive services, and the provision of medication and medical equipment.⁠[35]

Iraq carried out most of its chemical attacks during the cold season. The low temperatures and calm air in winter caused the chemical agents to linger longer in the environment.⁠[36]

During the Iran-Iraq War, 278 companies from Germany, the United States, Britain, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, India, Korea, China, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Jordan, Russia, and Ukraine sold nuclear and chemical weapons materials and technology to Iraq.⁠[37] In July 1988, Iraq’ s then-Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz admitted that chemical weapons had been used in the Iran-Iraq War.⁠[38] In 1990, Saddam Hussein declared that Iraq’ s chemical weapons capability ranked third after the United States and the Soviet Union.

On May 14, 2004, a memorial plaque honoring chemical warfare veterans was installed in front of the German Embassy in Tehran.⁠[39] In 2005, the Peace Museum was opened in Tehran. It documents the use of chemical weapons against Iran during the war, highlighting the brutality of war and the importance of peace.⁠[40]

Throughout the eight years of the imposed war by Iraq against Iran, and in line with Imam Khomeini’ s fatwa, which stated, “ We want to engage in sacred defense… This is a defense that reason and Islam comply with”, Iran never used chemical weapons against Iraq.⁠[41]

References

[1]. Darvishi, Farhad, Jang-e Iran va Araq: Porseshha va Pasokhha (Iran-Iraq War: Questions and Answers), Tehran: Markaz Motaleaat va Tahqiqat-e Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1386, p. 274.
[2]. Qamsarian, Mahdi, Amaliyat-e Estanch (Operation Estanch), Tehran: Amiri, 1389, p. 218.
[3]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), Tehran: Ettelaat, 1367, Pp. 17-23.
[4]. Moradpiri, Hadi, Sharbaty, Mojtaba, Ashnaei ba Oloom va Maaref-e Defa Muqaddas (Introduction to the Sciences and Teachings of the Sacred Defense), Tehran: Bonyad-e Hefz-e Aasar va Nashr-e Arzeshha-ye Defa Muqaddas, 11‌th Edition, 1391, p. 138.
[5]. Ibid., p. 192.
[6]. Ahmadi, Koorosh, Shoray-e Amniyat-e Sazman-e Melal va Masale-ye Khal-e Selah-e Araq (United Nations Security Council and the Issue of Iraq’ s Disarmament), Tehran: Markaz-e Chap va Entehsarat-e Vezarat Omoor-e Khareje, 1384, p. 10.
[7]. Moradpiri, Hadi, Sharbaty, Mojtaba, Ashnaei ba Oloom va Maaref-e Defa Muqaddas (Introduction to the Sciences and Teachings of the Sacred Defense), p. 141.
[8]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), Pp. 110, 118; Goodarziani, Ahad, Qeteie az Aaseman: Piranshahr (A Piece of the Sky: Piranshahr), Tehran: Bonyad-e Hefz-e Aasar va Nashr-e Arzeshha-ye Defa Muqaddas, 1394, p. 12; Mirzaei, Reza, Hamaseha-ye Namdaran-e Gomnam (Epics of the Unknown Heroes), Tehran: Bonyad-e Hefz-e Aasar va Nashr-e Arzeshha-ye Defa Muqaddas va Pazhooheshgah-e Oloom va Maaref-e Defa Muqaddas, 1394, p. 940.
[9]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 118; Dehqan-Nayyeri, Hussain, Qeteie az Aaseman: Baneh (A Piece of the Sky: Baneh), Tehran: Bonyad-e Hefz-e Aasar va Nashr-e Arzeshha-ye Defa Muqaddas, 1394, p. 17.
[10]. Rashid, Mohsen, Atlas-e Jang Iran va Araq (Atlas of the Iran-Iraq War), Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad va Tahqiqat-e Defa Muqaddas-e Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1379, p. 72.
[11]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 110.
[12]. Forootan, Abbas, Jang-e Shimiaei-e Araq va Tajrobei-e Pezeshki-e Aan (Iraq’ s Chemical War and Its Medical Experiences), Tehran: Teymoorzadeh, Tabib, 1382, p. 100.
[13]. Khateri, Shahryar, Jannati-Moheb, Ahmad, Jang-e Shimiaei-e Araq Alayh-e Iran be Revayat-e Asnad-e Sazman-e Melal-e Mottahed (Iraq’ s Chemical War against Iran According to United Nations Documents), Karaj: Hanzaleh, Bonyad-e Hefz-e Aasar va Nashr-e Arzeshha-ye Defa Muqaddas, 1386, Pp. 22-23.
[14]. Ibid., p. 23.
[15]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 115.
[16]. Alaei, Hussain, Atlas-e Jang-e Iran va Araq (Atlas of the Iran-Iraq War), p. 74.
[17]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 116.
[18]. Rooznameh-ye Etemaad (Etemaad Newspaper), No. 4264, 3 Dey-e 1397, p. 7.
[19]. Khamehyar, Muhammad, Avalinha-ye Defa Muqaddas (Firsts of the Sacred Defense), Tehran: Parsa Andish, 3‌rd Edition: 1389, p. 176.
[20]. Shomareh Sanad S/17932 Shoray-e Amniyat (Security Council Document No. S/17932).
[21]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 116.
[22]. Ahmadi, Koorosh, Shoray-e Amniyat-e Sazman-e Melal va Masale-ye Khal-e Selah-e Araq (United Nations Security Council and the Issue of Iraq’ s Disarmament), p. 11.
[23]. Moradpiri, Hadi, Sharbaty, Mojtaba, Ashnaei ba Oloom va Maaref-e Defa Muqaddas (Introduction to the Sciences and Teachings of the Sacred Defense), p. 141.
[24]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 118; Khateri, Shahryar, Jang-e Shimiaei-e Araq Alayh-e Iran be Revayat-e Asnad-e Sazman-e Melal-e Mottahed (Iraq’ s Chemical War against Iran According to United Nations Documents), p. 24.
[25]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 118; Farhang-e Joghrafiyaei-e Aabadiha-ye Ostan-e Kordestan (Geographical Culture of Villages of Kurdistan Province), Tehran: Sazman-e Joghrafiyaei-e Nirooha-ye Mosallah, 1385, p. 60.
[26]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 119.
[27]. Khateri, Shahryar, Jannati-Moheb, Ahmad, Jang-e Shimiaei-e Araq Alayh-e Iran be Revayat-e Asnad-e Sazman-e Melal-e Mottahed (Iraq’ s Chemical War against Iran According to United Nations Documents), Pp. 24-25.
[28]. Sadeqi, Reza, Atlas-e Rahnama 12: Azarbayjan Gharbi dar Jang ba Zed-e Enqelab va Defa Muqaddas (Atlas 12: West Azerbaijan in the War against Anti-Revolutionary Elements and Sacred Defense), Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad va Tahqiqat-e Defa Muqaddas, 1391, p. 66.
[29]. Lotfollahzadegan, Ali-Reza, Roozshomar-e Jang-e Iran va Araq, Ketab-e Chehelonohom: Tasvib-e Qatnameh-ye 598 (Chronology of the Iran-Iraq War, Book 49: Adoption of Resolution 598), Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Defa Muqaddas-e Sepah, 1387, p. 369.
[30]. Khateri, Shahryar, Jannati-Moheb, Ahmad, Jang-e Shimiaei-e Araq Alayh-e Iran be Revayat-e Asnad-e Sazman-e Melal-e Mottahed (Iraq’ s Chemical War against Iran According to United Nations Documents), p. 25; Sadeqi, Reza, Atlas-e Rahnama 12 (Atlas 12), p. 66.
[31]. Rashid, Mohsen, Atlas-e Jang-e Iran va Araq (Atlas of the Iran-Iraq War), p. 99.
[32]. Khateri, Shahryar, Jannati-Moheb, Ahmad, Jang-e Shimiaei-e Araq Alayh-e Iran be Revayat-e Asnad-e Sazman-e Melal-e Mottahed (Iraq’ s Chemical War against Iran According to United Nations Documents), Pp. 25-26.
[33]. Ibid., p. 28.
[34]. Forootan, Abbas, Jang-e Shimiaei-e Araq va Tajrobei-e Pezeshki-e Aan (Iraq’ s Chemical War and Its Medical Experiences), p. 270.
[35]. Heydarian Muqaddam, Muhammad, Khateri, Shahryar, Janbazan-e Shimiaei (Chemical Warfare Veterans), Tehran: Pazhooheshkadeh-ye Mohandesi va Oloom-e Pezeshki-e Janbazan, 1381, p. 10.
[36]. Alaei, Hussain, Jang-e Shimiaei Tahdid-e Fazayande (Chemical War: A Growing Threat), p. 121.
[37]. Rooznameh-ye Iran (Iran Newspaper), No. 3533, 5 Dey-e 1385, p. 15.
[38]. Ahmadi, Koorosh, Shoray-e Amniyat-e Sazman-e Melal va Masale-ye Khal-e Selah-e Araq (United Nations Security Council and the Issue of Iraq’ s Disarmament), p. 12.
[39]. Rooznameh-ye Ettelaat (Ettelaat Newspaper), No. 23053, 26 Ordibehesht-e 1383, p. 2.
[40]. Rooznameh-ye Sharq (Sharq Newspaper), No. 2376, 29 Mordad-e 1394, p. 9.
[41]. Taqizadeh Akbari, Ali, Avamel-e Maanavi va Farhangi-e Defa Muqaddas (Spiritual and Cultural Factors in the Sacred Defense), Tehran: Markaz-e Tahqiqat-e Eslami, 1380, p. 170.

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