• skillissuerMEnglish
    49·
    6 days ago

    that key to heaven was probably something between mistranslation and bs, but there’s so many more awful shit!

    electric swamp - iraq used swamps as a natural barrier, laying mines, placing mortars and HMGs around, and also putting high voltage wires in water. when iranian raid was detected, they’d just fire a bit until iranians fell to water, then turned power on

    BWR fights - phoenix missiles on iranian tomcats. iraqis had no idea what’s going on to the point that they suspected sabotage (mirages just fell apart in air for no reason)

    war profiteering - lots of countries sold covertly weapons to iraq or to both sides, but swiss were probably worst: they sold gas masks to iran and chemical weapons precursors to iraq

    ww1 era warfare complete with said chemical weapons, and also genocide of Kurds for some reason

    and all for nothing (result: status quo ante bellum)

    • psmgx@lemmy.worldEnglish
      24·
      6 days ago

      Don’t forget all the chemical warfare!

      And a key use for the young volunteers was to clear landmines. They pioneered the Storm Z tactics used by the Russians in Ukraine.

      And the shelling / bombing of civilian targets.

      Also, in case it wasn’t mentioned, chemical warfare.

  • Carmakazi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    6 days ago

    I recall a firsthand account, I think from the Iraqi side, about their “recruitment” efforts. Where they just drove trucks around, knocked on doors, and gave the men a choice. Either you come with us to fight, or everyone piles out of this truck and violates your family while you watch.