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

            1987       37 onboard USS STARK are killed by an Iraqi missile and Saddam Hussein apologizes
                       for the unintentional incident. U.S. refiags Kuwaiti tankers and provides armed escort
                       in the Persian Gulf. Iranian Siikworrn missile strikes a Kuwaiti tanker flying the U.S.
                       flag. Three days later, U.S. destroyers shell an Iranian offshore oil rig used as a
                       gunboat base. Arab leaders announce support of Iraq in the war with Iran.
                       Afghanistan announces cease-fire with rebels.

            1988       Iran attacks Kurdish town of Halabja in Iraq and Iraq uses mustard and cyanide gases
                       to retake the town. As Kurds flee to Turkey, Iraq announces collapse of the rebellion
                       in northern provinces. Iran attacks oil fields near Basra, triggering one of the
                       bloodiest battles of the war with Iraq. USS VINCENNES mistakenly destroys Iranian
                       airliner, killing 290. U.S. expresses regret and pays reparations.A truce ends the
                       eight-year Iran-Iraq War. U.S. and P.L.O. establish contact.

            1989       USSR pulls troops out of Afghanistan.    Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini dies. Iraq is
                       plagued by unemployment and in debt.     Iraq increasingly belligerent towards Kuwait.


)


                                                       A-5

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