Saddam’s Use of Violence against Civilians during the Iran-Iraq War

This article explores the drivers behind Saddam Husayn’s decisions to target civilians during the Iran-Iraq War. Comparing the intensity and casualty rates of Saddam’s counter-city campaigns, the study asks whether their variation was linked to Iraqi battlefield performance, the type and intensity of Iranian offensives, or international attention to the matter. Analysis is based on Saddam Husayn’s taped conversations with his advisers, media reports from the period, and public records from Saddam’s 2004 interrogation sessions.