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 Baath 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 Baath 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 Iraqs use of mustard gas and nerve agents against Iranian soldiers. 1986-87 Tanker war between Iran and Iraq in Persian Gulf. 1988 Saddams 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 Bushs life in Kuwait in April. 1994 Saddam Hussein becomes prime minister and president. Iraqi National Assembly recognises Kuwaits 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 Iraqs 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 Husseins regime. November 2002 UNSC 1441 sets up tougher weapons inspections, threatening serious consequences for Iraqs failure to comply. Inspectors reenter Iraq on November 27. January 2003 Hans Blixs UNSCOM report on the inspections goes to the Security Council. This timeline was compiled for the pamphlet Why Another War? A backgrounder on the Iraq Crisis by Sarah Graham-Brown and Chris Toensing for the Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP).
Abd al-Karim Qasim
back to text Freedom monument in Baghdad by Jewad Salim (1920-1961)
Map of air exclusion zones established during the Gulf war Kurdish refugee on the Iran-Turkey border in 1991
A bulldozer crushes bodies of 500 kg bombs designed for use as chemical weapons as part of UNSCOM operations.
LEFT to RIGHT: Bombing of Iraqi army in retreat; starving child; pockmarked mural of Saddamback to text
