50 DAYS OF WAR
(MISSILE ATTACKS AGAINST TEHRAN)

A NEW PHASE IN THE WAR OF THE CITIES: LONG RANGE MISSILES

The deployment of the long-range missiles, for the first time in the Iran-Iraq war; gave this long war a new dimension. Before the use of long-range missiles by Iraq, they now and then mentioned the actual possessioning of such missiles. For example, Baghdad's Radio on Feb 3, 1987, in a threatening announcement had claimed: "If Iran does not accept Iraq's proposals and... Iraq will use its long-range missiles and destroy all the Iranian cities." On Feb 1, 1987, Observer magazine also wrote: "Unidentified foreign observers believe that Iraq for the first time is planning on the deployment of Soviet-made S.S. 12 missiles with a range of over 800 km.

Once again war of the cities began on Mar 1, 1988, and continued for 11 days and after a short stall it started again on Mar 14, 1988, and went on for approximately 38 days. In these two stages, out of 189 missiles launched 133 of them were aimed at Tehran. In addition, the cities on Qom, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz and Karaj came under numerous attacks which resulted in heavy damages as well as the martyring of 1721 and wounding of over 8293 people. Iraq, this time, added 24 other cities to its list. But what is interesting is that Iraq this time attacked with chemical weapons one her own cities by the name of Halabja; this attack has been considered as one of the most bitter and unfair moments that took place during this war. The innocent and helpless people of Halabja, whom as well as being burned were also cut to pieces and the pictures taken from the scene showed the children that were either half or completely burned trying take refuge inside of their mothers' arms.