The Iran-Iraq War began when Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran, hoping to take advantage of the turmoil that followed the Iranian Revolution and to gain control over the Shatt al-Arab waterway and nearby territory. The war turned into a long, bloody stalemate, with trench warfare reminiscent of the First World War, attacks on cities and on oil tankers in the Gulf, and the use of chemical weapons by Iraq. Many countries supplied arms to one or both sides. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed. A ceasefire under United Nations Resolution 598 ended the fighting in 1988, with neither side gaining much territory.
Before and after
- 27 July 1980Death of Mohammad Reza I of Iran
- 26 August 1980Birth of Chris Pine
- 31 August 1980Solidarity is founded in Poland
- 9 September 1980Founding of Dutch Language Union
- from 22 September 1980 to 20 August 1988Iran–Iraq War
- October 1980Discovery of Atlas
- October 1980Discovery of Prometheus
- October 1980Discovery of Pandora
- 21 October 1980Birth of Kim Kardashian
More in Wars, politics & history
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- from 6 October 1973 to 26 October 1973Yom Kippur War
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The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.