Iran-Iraq War and Desert Storm Lsn 38
Dec 18, 2015
Iran-Iraq War and Desert Storm
Lsn 38
ID & SIG
• chemical weapons, coalition, Desert Storm, human wave attacks, Iran-Iraq War, “left hook”, Khomeini, objective of Desert Storm, Republican Guards, Saddam, Schwarzkopf, shaping operations (deception and air war), Tanker War, War of the Cities
Iran-Iraq War: The Middle East
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988): Background
• Underlying causes of the war included Sunni vs Shi’ite religious tensions and Persian vs Arab ethnic tensions
• The immediate cause was that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was concerned about Iranian efforts to undermine his regime– Saddam hoped to curtail the spread of Islamic
fundamentalism to which Iraq’s Shi’ite population seemed increasingly vulnerable
– He also wanted to increase his influence in the Persian Gulf by seizing key geographic areas
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988): Background
• Saddam had spent vast sums on improving his military and he also knew the Iranian military was weakened by the upheaval of the 1979 Iranian Revolution– Saddam expected
a short warIraqi President Saddam Hussein
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988): Iraqi Attack
• On Sept 22, 1980 Iraq launched a surprise attack against ten Iranian airfields
• Then Iraq launched ground attacks on four separate axes– Most of Iran’s advanced
planes were in protective hangars so the surprise aerial attack had little effect
– The ground attack also produced little and after about a week Saddam called for a cease-fire
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988): Iranian Recovery
• Saddam renewed his offensive with several subsequent attacks but by March 1981 they had all exhausted themselves
• Instead of the quick victory Saddam had hoped for, all he had done was give the Iranian revolutionary regime a rallying cry to mobilize its people– Now Iraq faced a total war
against an enemy with far greater population and resources
Iran-Iraq War: (1980-1988):International Response
• In spite of Saddam’s record of human rights abuses, the international community seemed more afraid of the spread of Ayatollah Khomeini’s influence in the Middle East
• Consequently there was little support for Iran even though Iraq had initiated the aggression– Logistical shortages would
hinder Iran throughout the war
Iran seized 66 American hostages in the revolution that brought Khomeini to power
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):Iranian Attacks
• From Sept 1981 through May 1982, Iran seized the initiative through poorly coordinated attacks that relied on superior numbers to make up for inferior commanders, staffs, and equipment
• In some cases the Iranian used human wave attacks spearheaded by religiously motivated children and old men who would race forward and use their bodies to detonate concealed mines
• Then waves of poorly trained militia threw themselves on the barbed wire to try to make a breach
• Finally better trained and equipped soldiers would attack over the mangled bodies of the initial waves
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):Iranian Successes
• As time passed the Iranians developed better tactics but still suffered huge losses
• Nonetheless the Iranians succeeded in pushing the Iraqis back and in June 1982 Saddam ordered the evacuation of most of the territory seized from Iran
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988): Chemical Weapons
• Iran then shifted its emphasis from defense to offense
• In July the Iranians attacked Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, and in October they attacked toward Baghdad
• The Iraqis repelled the attacks, using limited amounts of mustard gas and possibly nerve gas in the process
Iranian soldier with a protective mask
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):Tanker War
• In 1984 the war escalated to a new level when Saddam began using his superior air power to halt the shipment of Iranian oil through the Persian Gulf
• The Iraqis shipped most of their oil by pipeline so the Iranians were not able to retaliate against Iraqi shipping
• Instead Iran attacked the ships of Iraq’s allies, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia– This became known as the “Tanker War”
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):War of the Cities
• From March to June 1985 the “War of the Cities” occurred with both sides launching missile attacks at major population centers
• As the Iranians increasingly dominated the ground war, Iraq stepped up its air attacks Both sides fired
SCUD missiles at each other’s cities
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):US Involvement
• In 1987 the US began playing an increasingly active role having concluded that an Iranian victory would be contrary to US interests in the region
• Kuwait transferred ownership of half of its tankers to a US shipping company and US warships provided security for them in the Persian Gulf
• There were several direct interactions between the US and Iran including the Iranian cruise missile attack against the USS Stark which killed 37 Americans
The USS Stark after the attack
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):Iraqi Advantage
• Iran began increasingly wary of even greater US involvement
• The strategic situation was beginning to favor Iraq, and Iraq responded with renewed offensives– Iraq scored a huge victory
in the Haur-al-Hawizeh marshes but then withdrew in an apparent attempt to signal to Iran a willingness to end the war
Donald Rumsfeld, President Reagan’s special envoy to the Middle East, meeting with Saddam in 1983
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988): Iranian Difficulties
• The USS Vincennes mistakenly identified an Iranian civilian airplane with 290 people on board as a war plane and shot it down
• The incident hurt Iranian morale
• Iran was also suffering from serious supply shortages and increasingly successful Iraqi attacks
• Iran could respond only with human wave attacks, but unlike in 1980, volunteers were less abundant Iranian stamp commemorating
the USS Vincennes incident
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):Peace
• Finally Iran accepted a truce and the war ended on Aug 20, 1988
• In the end, neither side gained anything of significance and instead plundered their treasuries and wasted thousands of lives– The war left Iraq with over $90
billion in debts– This is going to contribute to
Saddam’s decision to invade Kuwait in 1990
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988):Legacy
• The Iraqis used superior air power, attacked commercial shipping, and used chemicals
• The Iranians were largely isolated from international support and often resorted to human wave tactics to offset their technological disadvantage
• The war left the long standing enmity between the two countries unresolved Iraqi soldiers celebrating in
front of a bullet-ridden picture of Ayatollah Khomeini
Desert Storm: The Middle East
Desert Storm: Background
• Majority of region administered by Britain until post-World War II.
• Long-standing disputes between Iraq and Kuwait. – Iraq argues Kuwait is an Iraqi province.
• Iraq mobilized and prepared for invasion in 1961 immediately after Kuwait was granted independence by Britain.
– Iraq wants Kuwait to forgive debts Iraq owes from Iran-Iraq War.
• Claims Kuwait actually owes Iraq for “defending” it against Iran.
– Iraq accuses Kuwait of overproduction of oil/theft of Iraqi oil.• On Aug 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait
The Road to War
• March 1990 – US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a Command Post Exercise with a Iraqi invasion scenario.
• July 25 - US Ambassador April Galaspie told Iraq that their dispute with Kuwait is not a US matter
• Aug 2 - Iraq invaded Kuwait.• Aug 7– Two squadrons of
USAF F-15s are first US forces to arrive in Saudi Arabia.
• Aug 9– First elements of 82nd Airborne arrived in Saudi Arabia.
Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division departing Fort Bragg,
NC for Saudi Arabia
The Road to War
• Aug 25, 1990 – UN authorized use of force.
• Oct 31 – President Bush gave go ahead for two corps offensive and authorized doubling of force.
• Nov 29 - UN Resolution 678 authorized all force needed to expel Iraq if they are not out by Jan 15, 1991.
The original plan for a one corps-size force would have been
primarily a frontal attack which would have resulted in additional
casualties.
Coalition Operations
• The end of the Cold War and Russia’s willingness to join the US in opposing Iraq created an unprecedented level of international cooperation
• The United Nations adopted resolutions condemning Iraq and authorizing the use of force
• Thirty-six countries (as well as Kuwait) contributed forces
Coalition
• Coalition unity became the center of gravity (“those characteristics, capabilities or localities from which a military force derives its freedom of action, physical strength, or will to fight”) for the US
• Saddam tried to fracture coalition unity by launching Scud missile attacks against population centers in Israel– Saddam hoped to goad Israel into retaliating and
therefore cause the Arab members of the coalition to pull out
– US pleaded with Israel to stay out of the war and the US deployed Patriot missile batteries to help protect Israel
Combat Operations
• Jan 17, 1991 - Air war began
• Feb 23 - Ground war began
• Feb 28 - Cease fire took effect.
• March 2 - 24th ID fought last engagement of the war.
• March 3 - Schwarzkopf accepted Iraqi surrender at Safwan.
Shaping Operations
• Create and preserve conditions for the success of the operation
• Air operation– Cut supplies bound for Iraqi
forces in Kuwait from 20k tons per week to 2k tons per week and eliminated Iraqi air threat
• Deception operation– Highly visible Marine
rehearsals persuaded Saddam to commit an estimated four divisions to protect his flank against an amphibious assault
Leaflets such as these deceived the Iraqis into
thinking the main attack would be amphibious
The Shift Westward
The Ground War• Massive air and
artillery bombardments prior to D-Day reduced front line forces to less than 50% strength and reserves to 50-75%.
• Feb 23 - Iraqis begin torching oil wells.
• Feb 24 - Ground campaign kicks off.– Emphasized speed
and maneuver.
IranEuphrates
Tigris
Hafir al Batin
Kuwait City
As Samawah
An Nasiriyah
Al Basrah
Khafji
Persian Gulf
AlBusayyah
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Third Army
XVIIIAirborne
CorpsVII
Corps
JFCEast
JFCNorthMARCENTxx
x
xxxx
xxx
xxx
RepublicanGuards
Iraqi Defenses
VII Corps will be the decisive operation with the mission to destroy the enemy’s decisive point, the Republican Guards.XVIII Abn Corps will be the shaping operation with the mission to isolate the battlefield
Situation, 23 February 1991
Iran
Euphrates
Tigris
Hafir al Batin
Kuwait City
As Samawah
An Nasiriyah
Al Basrah
Persian Gulf
AlBusayyah
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
T
AD
NAL
MH
5152
1710
6
E
2
D
1511
1920282548
26
49
12
47
271630 36
2914 18
71
3
21
US Third Army
XX
6 FR
XX
101
XX
24III
3
XX
82
XX
1 UK JFN
XX
JFEXX
XX
2Marine
XVIIIAirborne
Corps VIICorps
JFCEast
X
2
XX
1Marine
JFCNorth
MARCENT
xxx
XX
1
III
2
XX
3
XX
1
XX
1 xxxx
xxx
xxx
5
Situation, 24 February 1991
25
Iran
Euphrates
Tigris
Hafir al Batin
Kuwait City
As Samawah
An Nasiriyah
Al Basrah
Persian Gulf
AlBusayyah
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
US Third Army
XVIIIAirborne
Corps VIICorps
JFCEast
JFCNorth
MARCENT
xxx
xxxx
xxx
xxx
49
NAL
AD
HM
52
T
12
47
272848
26
E
5110
617
2
D
2115
1119
13
18
52914
7
36163020
JFEXXXX
1Marine
XX
2Marine
X
2 JFN
XXXX
1 UK
XX
1
XX
1XX
3
III
2
XX
1
III
3
XX
24
XX
101
XX
82
XX
6 FR
Situation, 25 February 1991
Iran
Euphrates
Tigris
Hafir al Batin
Kuwait City
As Samawah
An Nasiriyah
Al Basrah
Persian Gulf
AlBusayyah
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
US Third Army
XVIIIAirborne
Corps
VIICorps
JFCEast
JFCNorth
MARCENT
xxx xxxx
xxx
xxx
JFEXX
XX
1Marine
X
2
XX
2Marine
JFNXX
XX
1
XX
1 UK
XX
1
XX
3XX
1
III
2
III
3
XX
24
XX
101XX
82
XX
6 FR
27
47
12
T
52
17
21
1 319
1115
D
26
10 51
EMH
ADAL
N
49
Situation, 26 February 1991
D
Iran
Euphrates
Tigris
Hafir al Batin
Kuwait City
As Samawah
An Nasiriyah
Al Basrah
Persian Gulf
AlBusayyah
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
JFCEast
US Third Army
XVIIIAirborne
Corps
VIICorps
JFCNorth
MARCENT
xxx xx
xx
xxx
xxx
XX
6 FR
XX
82
XX
101
XX
24
III
3
III
2
XX
1
XX
1
XX
3
XX
1 UKXX
147
12
T 17
52
M
H
49
N
ALAD
E
JFNXX
XX
2Marine
JFEXX
XX
1Marine
X
2
5110
62
Situation, 27 February 1991
Iran
TigrisHafir al Batin
Kuwait City
As Samawah
An Nasiriyah
Al Basrah
Persian Gulf
AlBusayyah
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
JFCEast
XVIIIAirborne
Corps
xxx
US Third Army
VIICorps
JFCNorth
MARCENT
xxx
xxxx
xxx
JFEXX
XX1Marine
X2
XX2Marine
JFNXX
2610
52 51
MH
N ALAD
XX
1 UK
III2
XX1
XX3
XX1
XX1
III3
XX24
XX101
XX6 FR
XX82
Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney reported the Iraqis were now conducting “the mother of all retreats”
“Highway of Death”
Situation, 28 February 1991
Iran
Tigris
Hafir al Batin
Kuwait City
As Samawah
An Nasiriyah
Al Basrah
Persian Gulf
AlBusayyah
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
JFCEast
XVIIIAirborne
Corps
xxx
US Third Army
VIICorps
JFCNorth
MARCENT
xxx
xxxx
xxx
JFEXX
XX
1Marine
X
2
XX
2Marine JFN
XX
XX
1 UK
III
2
XX
1XX
3
XX
1
XX
1
III
3
XX
24
AD
AL
XX
101
XX
6 FRXX
82
Partial Escape
• However much of the Hammurabi Division escaped intact– Throughout the fighting
Schwarzkopf had been pressing VII Corps commander Frederick Franks to pursue faster while Franks felt he still had enemy in contact to deal with
– The two never effectively communicated and a gap in the encirclement was the result
Franks and Schwarzkopf would provide conflicting versions of events in their post-war writings
Iraq
• The objective of Desert Storm was to liberate Kuwait, not to destroy the Iraqi army or remove Saddam
• Even though the coalition experienced amazing military success, Saddam remained in power and crushed short-lived uprisings by the Kurds in the north and the Shia in the south
• Iraqi Freedom would have the objective of changing the regime in Iraq
Review• Ground war emphasized mass, speed, and maneuver
– Still largely a linear battlefield– Iraqi Freedom would be much more nonlinear and trade mass for
speed• Renewed Air Force arguments about the relative superiority of air power• Technology, low casualties, short war would lead to increased demands
for use of military• Importance of media
– Felt somewhat used• Would lead to embedded journalists in Iraqi Freedom
• Limited objective (liberate Kuwait) left Saddam in power and the Republican Guards largely in tact– Set stage for Iraqi Freedom
Legacy of Desert Storm• Won with an operational concept that sought in a single
climatic operation to destroy the enemy’s center of gravity
• In 100 hours of combat, American forces destroyed or captured more than 3,000 tanks, 1,400 armored carriers, and 2,200 artillery pieces
• The “Great Wheel” swept over and captured almost 20,000 square miles of territory
• Only 140 soldiers died in direct combat• Erased the “Vietnam Syndrome”
• Scales, Certain Victory, p. 382-383
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