1991 Iraqi missile attacks against Israel
On 17 January 1991, Iraq initiated a missile campaign against Israel. Over the course of the next month, approximately 42 Scud missiles were fired into Israeli territory, primarily at the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. The missile attacks began on the same day as the Gulf War aerial bombardment campaign, which was targeting military infrastructure within Iraqi-occupied Kuwait. As many Muslim-majority and Arab countries were actively contributing to the American-led military coalition, the Iraqi government had expected them to rescind their support if Israel responded to the missile campaign by attacking Iraq. However, Israel did not retaliate. This is due first to King Hussein of Jordan meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir two weeks prior, where Shamir had been persuaded to consider Jordan's stability and demands that the Israelis not violate Jordanian airspace; and second, from the United States, the Bush administration had also urged Israel through pressure and defense aid not to retaliate, in the interests of holding together the coalition.[2] The coalition began a ground offensive against Iraq on 23 February 1991.
Iraqi missile attacks against Israel
17 January 1991 – 23 February 1991
(1 month and 6 days)
Iraq fails to provoke Israeli retaliation
- 2 civilians killed directly
- 11–74 civilians killed from incorrect use of gas masks, heart attacks, and incorrect use of atropine (for Iraqi chemical weapons)[1]
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Background
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Six-Day War and Yom Kippur War, the armies of Iraq and Israel saw action against one another as part of the broader Arab–Israeli conflict. Throughout the entire Iran–Iraq War from 1980 to 1988, Israel supported Iran in its war against Iraq through the supply of military equipment including spare parts for fighter jets, missile systems, ammunition and tank engines.[3] At the onset of the conflict, approximately 80% of all weaponry imported by Iran originated from Israel. On 7 June 1981, Israel bombed Iraq's Osirak Nuclear Reactor with Iranian intelligence support.[4] Israel's motivations for supporting Iran stemmed from a fear of what would have become if Iraq came out victorious and as an opportunity to create business for the Israeli arms industry.[5]
Casualties
Two Israeli civilians died as a direct result of the missile attacks.[1] Between 11 and 74 were killed from incorrect use of gas masks, heart attacks, and incorrect use of the anti-chemical weapons drug atropine.[1] A total of 4,100 buildings were damaged and at least 28 of those buildings destroyed. The area that sustained the most damage was the city of Ramat Gan.[11]
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