| 1958 | Iraqi monarchy overthrown in military coup led by Abd al-Karim Qasim. |
| 1959 | Saddam Hussein, 22, flees Iraq after involvement in attempted assassination of Qasim. |
| 1961 | Qasim claims newly-independent Kuwait as part of Iraq. Kurds begin armed revolt against Baghdad. |
| 1963 | Ba’ath Party overthrows Qasim, then is edged out of power by allies in coup. Iraq renounces claim to Kuwait. |
| 1966 | Ceasefire between Kurds and government forces. |
| 1967 | Iraq breaks diplomatic relations with the US after Arab-Israeli war. |
| 1968 | Ba’ath Party returns to power in coup. Saddam Hussein seizes positions of vice president and deputy head of the Revolutionary Command Council. |
| 1970 | Baghdad and Kurdish Democratic Party sign peace agreement. |
| 1972 | Iraq Petroleum Company - a consortium of western companies - is nationalised. |
| 1974 | Collapse of 1970 accord with KDP. Failed Kurdish rebellion produces refugee crisis. |
| 1975 | Iraq and Iran sign treaty ending border disputes. |
| 1979 | Saddam Hussein becomes president and chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council. About 400 party members are executed. |
| 1980 | Iran shells Iraqi border towns. On September 17, Iraq abrogates 1975 treaty, and invades Iran (see map). |
| 1981 | Israel attacks Osirak nuclear reactor. |
| 1982 | Iranian counteroffensive reclaims much ground occupied by Iraq. Syria closes pipeline to Iraq. |
| 1984 | Iraq restores diplomatic relations with the US. |
| 1986 | UN Secretary General reports Iraq’s use of mustard gas and nerve agents against Iranian soldiers. |
| 1986-87 | “Tanker war” between Iran and Iraq in Persian Gulf. |
| 1988 | Saddam’s Anfal campaign results in over 100,000 deaths in northern Iraq. On March 16, Iraq attacks Kurdish town of Halabja with mix of poison gas and nerve agents, killing 5,000. Ceasefire with Iran on August 20. Iraq reasserts claim to Kuwait. |
| 1990 | Iraq invades Kuwait on August 2. UN demands withdrawal by January 15, 1991, and imposes economic embargo. On November 29, UN authorizes use of “all necessary means” to liberate Kuwait. |
| 1991 | Bombardment of Iraq starts Operation Desert Storm on January 16. Ground war begins on February 24, and liberation of Kuwait occurs February 27. On March 3, Iraq accepts ceasefire. Iraqi forces suppress rebellions in the south and north during March and April, creating refugee crisis on borders with Turkey and Iran. Northern no-fly zone established in April. UNSCOM established (see here). |
| 1992 | No-fly zone established in southern Iraq. |
| 1993 | US cruise missile attack on Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad, in response to alleged attempt on George Bush’s life in Kuwait in April. |
| 1994 | Saddam Hussein becomes prime minister and president. Iraqi National Assembly recognises Kuwait’s borders and independence. |
| 1994-1997 | Fighting between KDP and rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Iraqi forces move into northern no-fly zone and help KDP defeat PUK in August 1996. Failed Iraqi National Congress coup attempt in 1996. |
| 1995 | UNSC 986 allows the partial resumption of Iraq’s oil exports to buy food and medicine in April. Resolution not accepted by Iraq until December. |
| 1998 | Inspectors withdraw from Iraq. US and Britain bomb Iraq from December 16-19 in Operation Desert Fox. |
| 1999 | UNSC 1284 creates UNMOVIC to replace UNSCOM. Iraq rejects resolution. |
| 2000 | First domestic passenger flights in Iraq since 1991. Commercial air links reestablished with Russia, Ireland and Middle East. Syria reopens pipeline. |
| 2001 | In February, US and Britain carry out major bombing raid. Rail link with Turkey reopened in May for the first time since 1981. |
| 2002 | In March, Arab summit rejects military action against Iraq. UNSC 1409 streamlines sanctions in May. Iraq rejects weapons inspections in talks with UN Secretary General in July. UN rejects Iraqi proposal for readmitting inspectors in August. |
| October 2002 | Both houses of Congress pass resolutions authorising George W. Bush to employ force to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s regime. |
| November 2002 | UNSC 1441 sets up tougher weapons inspections, threatening “serious consequences” for Iraq’s failure to comply. Inspectors reenter Iraq on November 27. |
| January 2003 | Hans Blix’s UNSCOM report on the inspections goes to the Security Council. |
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Abd al-Karim Qasim back to text | Freedom monument in Baghdad by Jewad Salim (1920-1961) |
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TOP ROW, from left to right: the Iraqi frontline, Iranian advance, and Iranian soldiers greeting each other.
BOTTOM: Iraqi casualty list on war monument in Baghdad
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Horrors of the Anfal attack by Jewad Salim
LEFT to RIGHT: Bombing of Iraqi army in retreat;
starving child; pockmarked mural of Saddam
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