In 1979, following the “Islamic revolution” in Iran, it was feared that a domino effect might ensue in repressive Muslim states. While Egypt brutally suppressed its Islamic movements and Saudi Arabia targeted Shia beliefs, Iraq opted for invasion.
BACKGROUND
- On 28 February, the US and Israel launched numerous airstrikes across Iran, killing senior officials including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
- Among the immediate destruction was the slaughter of an estimated 168-180 schoolgirls aged 7-12, after Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school was struck three times in quick succession
- Now into its second week, the war has already taken the lives of around 2,000 people and Unicef says 1,100+ children have been killed or injured
- While the US had been building up a significant military presence in the region for some time, negotiations had been expected to result in a deal to avert such a crisis
- Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had led diplomatic efforts on behalf of the White House, but ultimately the US leader decided to strike pre-emptively, without any legal basis and wrecking the global economy in its wake
1980-88
In 1980, clandestinely armed by the US and Britain and bank-rolled by the Gulf states, Iraqi troops crossed into Iran to capture the Shatt al-Arab River, ceded to Iran in a previous agreement.
Germany, France, and the US supplied Iraq with “dual-use” chemicals like anthrax and botulinum, while Britain provided chemical pumps used to manufacture nerve and mustard gas. Although prohibited, they knew the end use.
The Iran-Iraq War lasted eight years and left over one million dead. One fifth were Iranians killed by illegal chemical weapons.
Iraq later used those weapons during the Halabja massacre of Kurds.
1990-2003
After Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait in 1990, the West turned against it.
Two Gulf wars culminated in the destruction of Iraq, under the justification that Iraq possessed chemical weapons capable of killing Westerners. And a false allegation that Iraq was linked to al-Qaeda (AQ).
UN inspectors found no chemical weapons in Iraq because they’d been destroyed by 2003, and there was no AQ presence. al-Qaeda only came to Iraq because of and after the invasion.
Initially, Iranian-backed Shia and nationalist Arab Sunni groups, along with Islamists, fought the occupation… but it didn’t last. They turned on one another following sectarian attacks — just what the invasion needed.
The US occupation led to over one million dead, and the country was decimated. It also led to the emergence of so-called “Islamic State” in US torture camps.
What’s more, US and UK forces used depleted uranium tank shells during the invasions of Iraq in 1990 and 2003, which resulted in thousands of children contracting leukaemia and cancer.
2026-
Today, as the US and Israel wage war against Iran in the name of eradicating WMDs, let’s remind ourselves of the mass murders, genocide, and wars they’ve fomented in this region for decades.
They are responsible for the very things they attack others for. Moral of the story? Fight the invader, not each other.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
This article, reproduced with permission from the author, was originally published on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
