The Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988

The Iran-Iraq War, which ended in August 1988 - one month short of its eighth anniversary - was one of the longest, bloodiest, and costliest Third World armed conflicts in the twentieth century. Professor Karsh addresses the causes of the Iran-Iraq War, unpacking the objectives of the two belligerents and examining how far objectives were matched by strategy. He assesses the war's military lessons regarding such key areas as strategy, tactics, and escalation and, in particular, the use of non-conventional weapons. Finally, he examines the utility of armed force as an instrument of foreign policy.