Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq, stated that his country once possessed weapons of mass destruction but no longer has such weapons today. This unusual and rare admission from the Iraqi leader came as increasing signs indicated that the United States and Britain intended to attack Iraq if Saddam Hussein did not leave the country immediately. Iraqi television reported today that Saddam Hussein stated Iraq had weapons of mass destruction in the 1980s for self-defense during the war with Iran and to counter threats from Israel. During the eight-year war with Iran, Iraq used chemical weapons against Iranian forces and later employed these weapons against Iraqi Kurdish civilians in the north of the country in 1988. The United States and Britain accuse Iraq of failing to dismantle and destroy weapons of mass destruction, violating all relevant United Nations resolutions. According to Iraqi television, Saddam Hussein made his remarks during a meeting with the Tunisian Foreign Minister. The Iraqi President told the Tunisian Foreign Minister that if the United States attacked Iraq, they would face Iraqi fighters ready to sacrifice their lives for their homeland.
Saddam Hussein: Iraq Once Had Weapons of Mass Destruction, But No Longer Does - 2003-03-17
Saddam Hussein acknowledged that Iraq once had weapons of mass destruction but claimed they no longer exist, amid rising tensions with the US and UK, who are threatening military action if he does not leave Iraq. This admission highlights the ongoing international scrutiny of Iraq's military capabilities and compliance with UN resolutions.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Saddam Hussein admitted that Iraq previously had weapons of mass destruction but claimed they no longer exist. This statement came amid rising tensions with the U.S. and UK, who were threatening military action against Iraq.
- Saddam's admission was made during a meeting with the Tunisian Foreign Minister.
- Iraq had used chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War and against Kurdish civilians.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iraq had previously been involved in a protracted war with Iran and had used chemical weapons, raising international concerns about its military capabilities. The U.S. and UK were preparing for military intervention based on allegations of Iraq's non-compliance with disarmament.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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