Iran–Iraq War

September 22, 1980 – August 20, 1988 · Iran-Iraq border

Result Inconclusive

Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in September 1980, beginning an eight-year war driven by border disputes, Iraqi fears of Iran exporting its revolution, and ambitions for regional dominance. The fighting, which included trench warfare and chemical weapons use, killed around 500,000 people. Both sides accepted a UN-brokered ceasefire that took effect in August 1988, with borders essentially unchanged.

On the map Overview Contemporaries

Iran

Iraq

Other

Iran

Hezbollah

Iraq

Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Arabistan

Ruhollah Khomeini belligerent leader

Mohammad-Ali Rajai belligerent leader

Ali Khamenei belligerent leader

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani military commander

Saddam Hussein belligerent leader

Tariq Aziz military commander

Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri military commander

Adnan Khairallah military commander

Strength and losses

Iran Killed c. 750,000

Iraq Killed c. 500,000

Killed: c. 1,250,000

Units

Islamic Republic of Iran Army 92nd Armored Division (Iran) Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Islamic Republic of Iran Navy

Iraqi Army (1980–1988) Iraqi III Corps (1980–1988) Iraqi IV Corps (1980–1988) Iraqi VII Corps (1980–1988)

Battles and events 47

Key events

Battle of Khorramshahr (1980) September 22 – November 10, 1980 · Iraqi victory
Siege of Abadan November 6, 1980 – September 27, 1981
Operation Fath ol-Mobin March 22–28, 1982 · Iranian victory
Battle of Khorramshahr (1982) April 24 – May 24, 1982 · Iranian victory
Operation Ramadan July 13 – August 3, 1982 · Iraqi victory
Tanker war February 1, 1984 – August 4, 1988 · Iraqi coalition victory
- USS Stark incident May 17, 1987 · Iraqi victory
- Bridgeton incident July 24, 1987
- Operation Praying Mantis April 18, 1988 · United States victory
Operation Badr (1985) March 10–20, 1985 · Iraqi victory
First Battle of al-Faw February 11 – March 10, 1986 · Iranian victory
Operation Earnest Will July 24, 1987 – September 26, 1988
- Operation Nimble Archer October 19, 1987
Operation Praying Mantis April 18, 1988 · United States victory
Iran Air Flight 655 July 3, 1988
Operation Mersad July 26–30, 1988 · Iranian victory

1980 7 events

Battle of Khorramshahr (1980) September 22 – November 10, 1980 · Iraqi victory
Operation Kaman 99 September 23, 1980 · Iranian victory
Operation Scorch Sword September 30, 1980
Operation Dezful October 15, 1980
Operation Sultan 10 October 29, 1980
Siege of Abadan November 6, 1980 – September 27, 1981
Operation Morvarid November 29, 1980 · Iranian victory

1981 4 events

Operation Nasr January 5–9, 1981 · Iraqi victory
H-3 airstrike April 4, 1981
Operation Samen-ol-A'emeh September 27–29, 1981 · Iranian victory
Operation Tariq al-Quds November 29 – December 7, 1981 · Iranian victory

1982 4 events

Operation Fath ol-Mobin March 22–28, 1982 · Iranian victory
Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas April 24 – May 24, 1982 · Iranian victory
Battle of Khorramshahr (1982) April 24 – May 24, 1982 · Iranian victory
Operation Ramadan July 13 – August 3, 1982 · Iraqi victory

1983 6 events

Operation Before the Dawn February 6–26, 1983 · Iraqi victory
Operation Dawn (1983) April 10, 1983 · Iraqi victory
Operation Dawn 2 July 22–30, 1983
Operation Dawn 3 August 9, 1983 · Iraqi victory
1983–1986 Kurdish rebellions in Iraq September 1983 – 1986
Operation Dawn-4 November 1983

1984 6 events

Operation Dawn 5 1984
Tanker war February 1, 1984 – August 4, 1988 · Iraqi coalition victory
- USS Stark incident May 17, 1987 · Iraqi victory
- Bridgeton incident July 24, 1987
- Operation Praying Mantis April 18, 1988 · United States victory
Battle of the Marshes February 1984 · Iranian victory
War of the cities February 7, 1984 – February 1988
Operation Kheibar February 14 – March 19, 1984 · Iranian victory
Operation Dawn 6 February 22–24, 1984 · Iraqi victory

1985 1 event

Operation Badr (1985) March 10–20, 1985 · Iraqi victory

1986 4 events

Operation Dawn 8 February 9–25, 1986 · Iranian victory
First Battle of al-Faw February 11 – March 10, 1986 · Iranian victory
Battle of Mehran (1986) May 1986 – June 1986
Operation Karbala-4 December 25–27, 1986 · Iraqi victory

1987 8 events

Operation Karbala-6 1987
Operation Karbala-5 January 8 – February 26, 1987 · Iraqi victory
Siege of Basra January 8 – February 26, 1987 · Iraqi victory
Operation Karbala 10 May 1987 · Iranian tactical victory
Operation Nasr 4 June 1987 · Inconclusive
Chemical bombing of Sardasht June 28, 1987
Operation Earnest Will July 24, 1987 – September 26, 1988
- Operation Nimble Archer October 19, 1987
Operation Prime Chance August 1987 – June 1989