Up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity. This eight year conflict, makes iran the second country in the region with more combat aces, along with israel. Iraq war transition of iranian leadership and military decision to invade. The authors have made full use of extensive research, eyewitness accounts, interviews with dozens of people directly involved, as well as recently declassified documents. The iraqis claimed a total of five airtoair kills with these missiles, including two f5es, one f4d, one ch, and a bell 214c helicopter. Iraq was created as a british puppet, with territory that was majority shiite the majority denomination in iran and territories that iran. The first gulf war, better known as the iraqiran war the imposed war, as the iranian authorities came to call it was one of the longest and most atrocious interstate conflicts since the end of world war ii. List of books and articles about iraniraq war online.
In pumpkinflowers, matti friedman tells the story of a small outpost called the pumpkin, thus the title flowers refers to the code word for wounded soldiers during the unnamed israeli occupation of lebanons security zone in the 1990s. Pierre razoux offers an unflinching look at a conflict seared into the regions collective memory but little understood in the west. I quickly deduced that hyphens mysteriously disappeared from dates, ranges, and sequences. Nov 03, 2015 from 1980 to 1988 iran and iraq fought the longest conventional war of the century. Iraniraq war in the air 19801988 schiffer military history book tom cooper, farzad bishop on. Jan 25, 2003 this book focuses on the role of the air power in the iran iraq war of 19801988, one of the most underestimated and under researched events in the history of aerial warfare. The role of airpower in the iraniraq war air university.
Books about iraq war, 2003 what should i read next. The iran iraq war was an armed conflict between the islamic republic of iran and the republic of iraq lasting from september 1980 to august 1988. This book will be of much interest to students of international and cold war history, middle eastern politics, foreign policy, and international relations in general. It is doubtful at the time that anyone realized the one. From air and sea, iraniraq tanker war heats up the new. The west, including the united states, felt that the war aided in both the containment of iran and the exhaustion.
If anything, the world looked upon the iraniraq war with some relief. Air superiority gives a military force the ability to indiscriminately attack enemy targets, disrupt enemy lines of supply, to conduct recon, and, of course denies the enemy the ability to do all of. Bergquistwasassigned by headquarters united states airforce. Tom coopers many books on the air war also bring a granularity that many readers will appreciate. In the longest war, dilip hiro describes the causes and courses of the iraniraq military conflict and its effect on the two antagonists, as well as the rest of the. Iraniraq war in the air 19801988 schiffer military. Iraniraq war, 198088, protracted military conflict between iran and iraq. And by many metrics it was the worst and most brutal war since wwii, with the congo clashes in the running too. Iraniraq war in the air 19801988 schiffer military history. Sep 03, 1987 from air and sea, iran iraq tanker war heats up.
The iraqi air force launched surprise air strikes on ten iranian airfields with the objective of destroying the iranian air force. Nov, 2015 an evening standard best book of 2015 pierre razouxs the iran iraq war is better by a mile than most of the military history that floods the english market. An evening standard best book of 2015 pierre razouxs the iraniraq war is better by a mile than most of the military history that floods the english market. This book focuses on the role of the air power in the iraniraq war of 19801988, one of the most underestimated and under researched events in the history of aerial warfare. In accordance with the sykespicot agreement, the former ottoman empire was carved up with a number of moronically straight lines in the aftermath of world war i by the entente cordiale.
Perhaps the most important point to be drawn from it is the danger of allowing religious fanaticism on one side to clash with a leaders megalomania on the other. Warwick prize goes to scaldingly affecting stories of. There have been many books on the conflict, but this is the first detailed military history using materials from both sides, as well as materials obtained from us intelligence circles and briti. Iraq launched a fullscale invasion of iran on 22 september 1980. The entire iraq baathisiran war cost maximum 800k dead. The iraq war is a good example of the way in which information technology was grafted onto traditional ways of thinking about war ways which obscured what was actually happening in iraq. Jun 30, 2016 but the best book about the iraq war isnt actually about the iraq war. The war that haunts irans negotiators the new yorker. From 1980 to 1988 iran and iraq fought the longest conventional war of the century. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Its not a book, but i highly recommend the end of history podcast which covers a lot of subjects.
It was here, at the tip of the gulf, variously called persian or arabian, that a british expeditionary force first landed in 1914 to drive the turks from mesopotamia. Iraq launched seven air attacks on the iranian nuclear reactor at bushehr between 1984 and 1988 during the iran iraq war, ultimately destroying the facility. Few books have tried to record the joint and combined military operations of the 2003 iraq war, and ben lambeth is right in his statement that the air side of that. Air war operation desert storm as is usual in modern war, the first objective of the allied force in saudi arabia was to gain air superiority. I was shocked at how much i didnt know about one of the bloodiest conflicts since ww2. The iraniraq war, which ended in august 1988, one month short of its eighth anniversary, was one of the longest, bloodiest and costliest third world armed conflicts in the twentieth century. Still, the book conveniently chronicles the war s initial phases. From air and sea, iraniraq tanker war heats up the. The iraqiran war 1980 1988 on 22 september 1980, iraqi troops invaded iran, starting a war that would last for eight years.
They recently had a history of the middle east podcast series that had about an hour covering the iraniraq war. Iraqi president saddam hussein, who despised the shah, welcomed this change, but his joy turned to alarm when the ayatollah began calling for a shia revolution in iraq to. The iran iraq war was personified by the determination and ambition of the key leaders, saddam hussein and ayatollah khomeini, and characterised by mass casualties, the repression of the civilian populations and chemical warfare. The iran iraq war was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century and accidentally created the current nightmare of islamic fundamentalist terrorism. Oddly this war isnt discussed much any more, even though it is arguably the breakthrough event for the ongoing collapse of parts of the middle easti found pierre razouxs the iraniraq war to be a highly readable and useful account.
A warning indicates that border demarcations are subject to international dispute. American sniper chris kyle, scott mcewen, jim defelice. The attack failed to damage the iranian air force significantly. The iraniraq war has been a unique third world conflicttwo countries with large, relatively. Iran iraq war in the air, 19801988, schiffer military history, october 2002, isbn. Fought with lucrative oil money, it left the belligerents with crippling debts. Pages in category iraq war books the following 28 pages are in this category, out of 28 total. Professor karsh addresses the causes of the iraniraq war, unpacking the objectives of the two belligerents and examining how far objectives were matched by strategy. Coverage initially recaps political and military backdrops to the war chiefly border disputes. With the help of accurately targeted air power, the coalition forces were able to claim that they had toppled the iraqi. List of iranian aerial victories during the iraniraq war. The iraniraq war, by pierre razoux the new york times. After over a decade at war in iraq, we now have the best firstperson account, not only of fighting against the insurgency, but also what it felt like to come home after.
Dec 12, 2002 this book focuses on the role of the air power in the iran iraq war of 19801988, one of the most underestimated and under researched events in the history of aerial warfare. The dictator had reissued a book written by his uncle entitled. Top 10 books about the iraq war books the guardian. By then there was already unambiguous evidence indicating the urgency of defusing the imminent danger posed by iraq and its primary allies in the growing terrorist conspiracy.
The iraniraq war was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century and accidentally created the current nightmare of islamic fundamentalist terrorism. Also, from the iraqi side, the majority of the soldiers were sunni during the iraniraq war. Nov 21, 2015 oddly this war isnt discussed much any more, even though it is arguably the breakthrough event for the ongoing collapse of parts of the middle east. Razouxs book came out in french in 20, so through sheer timing he escaped the obligation to relate the iraniraq war to the present conflict in the region. Manosevitz in october 1980, the cia briefed then presidential candidate ronald reagan on the impact of the iraniraq war in the middle east.
Iraq launched seven air attacks on the iranian nuclear reactor at bushehr between 1984 and 1988 during the iraniraq war, ultimately destroying the facility. Williamson murray is professor emeritus at the ohio state university and senior fellow at ida. It was sparked by the iranian revolution, led by ayatollah ruhollah khomeini, which overthrew shah pahlavi in 197879. I have been reading history for forty or more years. Iraqs stated reason for initiating the war was defensive.
Iraniraq war in the air 19801988 schiffer military history book. The iraniraq war of 1980 to 1988 was a grinding, bloody, and in the end, completely pointless conflict. They recently had a history of the middle east podcast series that had about an hour covering the iran iraq war. The iraniraq war by pierre razoux, hardcover barnes. A military and strategic history goes far beyond these themes, taking a unique look at saddams decisionmaking throughout the war. This book focuses on the role of the air power in the iran iraq war of 19801988, one of the most underestimated and under researched events in the history of aerial warfare. In response to iranian missile attacks against baghdad, some 190 missiles were fired by the iraqis over a six week period at iranian cities in 1988, during the war of the cities. The iraqis claimed a total of five air to air kills with these missiles, including two f5es, one f4d, one ch, and a bell 214c helicopter. Ayatollah khomeini has been replaced by ayatollah khameini, who appears to be. In irans case, however, the governmental hostility to the united states is longerstanding the united states implicitly backed saddam hussein during the iraniraq war of the 1980s, the ties to.
Pages in category books about the 2003 invasion of iraq the following 41 pages are in this category, out of 41 total. Iraniraq war in the air 19801988 by tom cooper waterstones. During these years, the air combat produced many aces in the iranian air force, thanks to a superior training and doctrine. Jan 03, 2016 razouxs book came out in french in 20, so through sheer timing he escaped the obligation to relate the iraniraq war to the present conflict in the region. The contributions to the volume serve to underline that the iraniraq war was a defining conflict, shaping the perspectives of the key protagonists for a generation to come. Data presented on this list was obtained during extensive research by t. Very topical too since we will be getting to know iran much more in future and its history should be required reading. Razoux has produced the best book available on this important war.
The authors have made full use of extensive research, eyewitness accounts, interviews with dozens of people directly involved, as well as recently declassified documents from around the world which are published here for the first time. The best book about the iraq war isnt about the iraq war. It included tragic slaughter of child soldiers, use of chemical weapons, striking of civilian shipping, and destruction of cities. Did iraq literally lose 60100 mbts in the biggest single tank action of the iran iraq war.
Drawing from an extensive cache of captured iraqi government records, this book is the first comprehensive military and strategic account of the war through the lens of the iraqi regime and its senior military commanders. Gordon and trainor are at work on a book about operation iraqi freedom, but this. May 8, 2020 indian air force mig29 crashes in chuharpur village, punjab. May 02, 2005 buy iran iraq war in the air 19801988 schiffer military history book by tom cooper isbn. While most iraqis shias supported the war in the first 2 years of the war, the last 6 years, they were neutral.
The iraniraq war is one of the largest, yet least documented conflicts in the history of the middle east. Iraniraq rivalry, the islamic revolution and saddams ambitions. Air force officer and the author of the novel id walk with my. Except that they should have been scored within 12 months of first sidewinderdeliveries to iraq, exact dates of these claims remain unknown, and there is no firm confirmation from iran. The iraniraq war was personified by the determination and ambition of the key leaders, saddam hussein and ayatollah khomeini, and characterised by mass casualties, the repression of the civilian populations and chemical warfare. Iraqs close ally, the soviet union, was distressed with iraqi expansionist moves but happy to see the spread of irans muslim fundamentalism checked.
The authors used a treasure trove of original, iraqi documents some 600,000 captured during operation iraqi freedom and thousands of hours of interviews with former iraqi military officials. Army maps the area of iraq and iran on either side of the shatt al arab river is shown in white, indicating uninhabited marsh and swamp. A military history by williamson murray and robert h. The national defense university press publishes books, monographs, reports, and. Although iraq won the war militarily, and possessed a significant military advantage over iran in 1989, the 1991 persian gulf war reduced iraqs capabilities to a point where a rough parity now exists between iran and iraqconditions similar to those found in 1980. If youd like to nominate a book in either category, give us a. Apr 14, 2017 15 great books about iraq, afghanistan. Bishop, the results of which can be found in the books. Jun 28, 2015 the war ended four months later, when iran agreed to a ceasefire.