Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search

                       intention to eliminate bases and responsibilities        of Suez. Baath
           Party seizes power in Iraq with authority formally vested in General Ahmed Hassan al-
           Bakr, but real power is Saddam Hussein as head of party militia.

1970       Anwar Sadat succeeds Nasser in Egypt; Lieutenant General Hafez al-Assad takes over
           Syrian government.

1972       USSR-Iraq friendship treaty.  U.S. appoints first ambassador to Gulf region (U.S.
           diplomat stationed in Kuwait serves all Nations in region).   U.S. moves into former
           British base in Bahrain.

1973       Yom Kippur War.     U.S. expelled from Bahi.ain for supporting Israel. Arab states
           embargo oil shipments to U.S.   Egypt and Israel sign cease-fire agn~ment.

1974       U.S. moves back into Bahrain facility.    Israel returns control of Suez Canal to Egypt.
           Syria and Israel sign disengagement accord.   U.N. resolution affirms right of
           Palestinian self-determination and sovereignty within Palestine.

1975       Civil War erupts in Lebanon.   Closed for eight years, Suez Canal is reopened by
           Egypt.

1976       Syrian troops intervene in Lebanese Civil War.

1979       Egypt and Israel formally end hostilities. Soviets invade Afghanistan. Saddam Hussein
           gains presidency in Iraq. U.S. State Department puts Iraq on list of states that sponsor
           terrorism. Ayatollah leads Iranian revolution. U.S. embassy seized in Tehran, 52
           hostages taken.

1980       Iraq attacks Iran.  Iraq claims ownership of the Shatt-al-Arab area in southwestern


1981       Iran releases U.S. hostages. Israel bombs Iraqi nuclear facility at Osirak. Israel
           annexes Golan Heights, U.N. voids annexation. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Banram, Qatar,
           U.A.E., and Oman establish Gulf Cooperation Council.         Sadat is assassinated in
           Egypt.

1982       U.S. State Department removes Iraq from list of states that sponsor terrorism.  Last
           Israeli troops leave the Sinai, replaced with a U.N. peace keeping force.   Israel
           invades Lebanon to destroy P.L.O. bases.    Syria sends troops against the Israelis.
           Israel accepts U.S. peace initiative, ending Beirut seize.   As Israel withdraws, U.S.
           Marines take positions in Beirut.

1983       In Beirut, bombs explode at U.S. Marine barracks killing 241 and French barracks


1984       U.S. Marines withdraw from Lebanon.                                  ¼

1985       Arab League condemns Iranian attacks on Persian Gulf shipping, but ignores Iraqi
           raids on ships-near Iranian oil ports.  Terrorists seize ACHILLE LAURO.      U.S. jets
           force clown plane carrying ACHILLE LAURO hijackers in Sicily. ~~A airliner seized


1986       U.S. aircraft attack installations in Libya.


                                             AA

Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search