Iraq's Military Power

How did Saddam increase Iraq's military powers?

When he took power, Saddam focused on building up the military.

What nuclear weapons did the Iraq military have?

Saddam Hussein tried to build up Iraq's nuclear capabilities, but was prevented from doing so on 2 different occasions.

• ❖ In 1981, an Osiraq research reactor purchased from France was destroyed by an Israeli bombing raid.
• ❖ Allied bombing raids in the Gulf War destroyed Iraq's nuclear capabilities.

What chemical weapons did the Iraqi military have?

Saddam pushed for the development of non-conventional weapons, including chemical weapons after 1979. These included:

• ❖ Distilled mustard gas, a blister agent.
• ❖ Tabun gas.
• ❖ VX gas.

What biological weapons did the Iraqi military have?

The chemical weapons plants in Iraq produced biological weapons such as anthrax, typhoid and cholera.

Who did Iraq buy arms from for its military?

During the 1970s Saddam was able to buy weapons from a number of countries, including:

• ❖ The USSR.
• ❖ France.
• ❖ Brazil.
• ❖ Yugoslavia.

How big was the Iraqi military?

In 1980, Saddam had built the Iraqi army to 180,000 soldiers. By 1990, it was 900,000 and was the fourth-largest army in the world.