iraq iran war of 1980 - major facts
Key Dates
Context - Iraq
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13 Millions inhabitants
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Saddam Hussein is still contested in his own parti by Al Bakr supporters and with Islamic revolution in Iran, Shiis start a revolt in 1979.
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1st military power in the region.
Arabs = 75%, Kurds = 17%, Persian 2%.
⅔ Sunni, ⅓ Shii and 3% of minority (christians, jews,...)
Economic dependency on oil. Others sectors were developping.
Baasist regim since 1968 and the second “coup d’état” (1st in 1963).
July 1979, Saddam Hussein finally take supreme power after the ‘elimination’ of his cousin
Hassan Al Bakr, former Iraq president.
Context - Iran
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35 Million inhabitants
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Islamic regim after the 1979 revolution
Persian = 61 %, Azeris = 16%, Kurds = 10, Arab = 2%
90% Shii, 9% Sunni, 1% non muslim (Christians, jew, Zoroastrians).
Economic dependency to oil (79% of government revenues). Others sectors are badly developped. But still contested.
Weakness of military forces due to purges of new regims.
Religious differences - Sunni / Shii
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Had split in 661 after the assassination of Ali, the 4th Caliph and especially the nephew and son in law of Muhamad as the first one who have convert himself to Islam.
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Political differences at start. Shii thinks the Caliph should be a descendant of Ali and so
Muhamad to have the prophete blood. Sunni gives the caliphate to the best muslim.
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Religion practice also differs. For Shii, they think Caliphs and Imams can interpret the coran. For
Sunni, interpretation.are not really accepted. There is also the 7 revealed / 7 hidden imman theory in Shiism.
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Today : 90% of Muslim are Sunni. In the 10th Century, 50% and the two main caliphate were ruled by Shii.
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Arabs / Persians
Economic and Political stakes (Iraqi motivations) Shatt al Arab => first reason of the conflict
Geostrategic Waterway close to the Persian gulf.
- Use to be Iraqi
- Since the Alger
Context - Iraq
•
•
•
•
•
•
13 Millions inhabitants
•
Saddam Hussein is still contested in his own parti by Al Bakr supporters and with Islamic revolution in Iran, Shiis start a revolt in 1979.
•
1st military power in the region.
Arabs = 75%, Kurds = 17%, Persian 2%.
⅔ Sunni, ⅓ Shii and 3% of minority (christians, jews,...)
Economic dependency on oil. Others sectors were developping.
Baasist regim since 1968 and the second “coup d’état” (1st in 1963).
July 1979, Saddam Hussein finally take supreme power after the ‘elimination’ of his cousin
Hassan Al Bakr, former Iraq president.
Context - Iran
•
•
•
•
35 Million inhabitants
•
•
•
Islamic regim after the 1979 revolution
Persian = 61 %, Azeris = 16%, Kurds = 10, Arab = 2%
90% Shii, 9% Sunni, 1% non muslim (Christians, jew, Zoroastrians).
Economic dependency to oil (79% of government revenues). Others sectors are badly developped. But still contested.
Weakness of military forces due to purges of new regims.
Religious differences - Sunni / Shii
•
Had split in 661 after the assassination of Ali, the 4th Caliph and especially the nephew and son in law of Muhamad as the first one who have convert himself to Islam.
•
Political differences at start. Shii thinks the Caliph should be a descendant of Ali and so
Muhamad to have the prophete blood. Sunni gives the caliphate to the best muslim.
•
Religion practice also differs. For Shii, they think Caliphs and Imams can interpret the coran. For
Sunni, interpretation.are not really accepted. There is also the 7 revealed / 7 hidden imman theory in Shiism.
•
Today : 90% of Muslim are Sunni. In the 10th Century, 50% and the two main caliphate were ruled by Shii.
•
Arabs / Persians
Economic and Political stakes (Iraqi motivations) Shatt al Arab => first reason of the conflict
Geostrategic Waterway close to the Persian gulf.
- Use to be Iraqi
- Since the Alger