167: Chapter 164 New Strategy

In Baghdad, in the office of Saddam Hussein, Saddam Hussein was reading a report.

The report stated that Iraq had lost one hundred bombers in the last air raid.

The Iraqi Air Force now had only half of its strength remaining.

"We need a new strategy," Saddam Hussein said.

"What kind of strategy?" the Chief of Staff asked.

"We cannot use bombers anymore," Saddam Hussein said, "Iran's air defense system is too powerful."

"Then what shall we use!?"

Saddam Hussein was silent for a moment.

"Chemical weapons," he finally said.

The Chief of Staff was stunned.

"Chemical weapons?"

"Yes," Saddam Hussein said, "We have Chemical weapons. Imported from West Germany. They have not been used yet."

"But international law,"

"International law cannot control us," Saddam Hussein said, "We are already at war with Iran. We must win. If we lose, we will all die."

The Chief of Staff was silent.

He knew that Saddam Hussein was right.

Iraq must win.

No matter the cost.

"How many Chemical weapons do we have?" he asked.

"Enough to attack over a dozen cities in Iran," Saddam Hussein said, "Mainly mustard gas and Sarin."

"How do we launch them?"

"Using artillery and aircraft," Saddam Hussein said, "Launch chemical shells from the ground, and drop chemical bombs from the air."

"When do we start?"

"Within a week," Saddam Hussein said, "I want to let the people of Iran taste the flavor of death."

The Chief of Staff nodded.

He went out. He went to arrange the deployment of the Chemical weapons.

Saddam Hussein sat in his chair, looking out the window.

He knew this was a major decision.

Using Chemical weapons would invite condemnation from the international community.

But he also knew there was no other choice.

Iraq had already lost half of its Iraqi Air Force.

The economy of Iraq was collapsing.

The soldiers of Iraq were losing morale.

Chemical weapons might be the last hope for Iraq.

In Ahvaz, in the office of Reza.

The phone rang.

It was Karimi.

"I have some urgent intelligence," he said.

"Speak," Reza said.

"Iraq is preparing to use Chemical weapons," Karimi said.

Reza was stunned.

"Chemical weapons?"

"Yes," Karimi said, "One of our informants works in an Iraqi Chemical weapons factory. He told us that Iraq is preparing a large quantity of Chemical weapons. mustard gas and Sarin."

"When will they use them!?"

"Within a week," Karimi said, "The targets are several cities in Iran."

Reza's expression changed.

Chemical weapons.

This was a terrifying weapon.

It would not only kill soldiers but also civilians.

It would not only cause immediate death but also long-term suffering.

"Then how do we deal with it!?" Reza asked.

"This is a new challenge," Karimi said, "We need gas masks, chemical protection suits, and antidotes. We don't have enough of them currently."

"How many do we need!?"

"At least one hundred thousand sets," Karimi said, "And we need enough antidotes as well."

"Where can we get them!?"

"I don't know," Karimi said, "The production and supply of these items are controlled."

Reza was silent.

This was a huge challenge.

Iran did not have enough chemical defense equipment.

Iran's chemical defense capability was very weak.

If Iraq used Chemical weapons, Iran would suffer huge casualties.

"We must do something," Reza said, "We cannot let Iraq use Chemical weapons freely."

"What do we do!?"

"I need time to think," Reza said, "But we must take action."

The phone hung up.

Reza sat in his office, thinking.

Chemical weapons.

This was a new threat.

A threat that could change the course of the war.

He knew that he had to find a way.

Otherwise, Iran would suffer huge losses.

He picked up a pen and started writing in his notebook.

He was listing all possible countermeasures.

Diplomatic pressure: pressure the international community to condemn Iraq.

Military countermeasures: develop Iran's own Chemical weapons as a deterrent.

Defensive countermeasures: obtain enough chemical defense equipment.

Intelligence countermeasures: find the Chemical weapons factories of Iraq and destroy them.

Each countermeasure had its own difficulties.

But he had to try each one.

Because if he didn't try, Iran would lose.

...

March 8, 1982, a border village in western Iran.

Khalil was a ten-year-old boy.

His parents went to work in the fields in the morning.

Khalil was at home taking care of his two younger sisters.

He heard the sound of artillery in the distance.

This was not the first time.

Over the past year, the village had been shelled frequently.

Khalil was already used to it.

But today's artillery fire was a little different.

The sound of the shell explosions was relatively soft, without the strong shockwaves of ordinary shells.

Khalil looked out from the window.

Some white smoke was rising.

"How strange," he said.

His little sister ran to his side.

"Brother," she said, "I want to go out and play for a while."

"No," Khalil said, "There is a war going on outside."

"But I want to see the flowers in the garden."

"Alright," Khalil said, "But only for a few minutes."

Khalil and his two sisters walked out of the house.

They went to the garden in the backyard.

But they didn't notice that there was a strange smell in the air.

A smell like garlic.

Khalil's eyes began to water.

"Brother," the little sister said, "My eyes hurt."

"Mine too," Khalil said.

Then he started coughing.

The coughing became more and more severe.

His skin began to turn red and started to blister.

His sister fell to the ground.

"Sister!" Khalil shouted.

But he himself also fell down.

The last thing he saw was his sister's face, covered in blisters.

Then there was darkness.

The same scene was happening in over a dozen villages in western Iran.

mustard gas.

A terrifying Chemical weapon.

It causes skin to blister.

It burns the lungs.

It blinds the eyes.

It kills slowly.

But the suffering it causes is immense.

By the afternoon, hospitals in western Iran were crowded with people who had been poisoned.

The doctors didn't know how to treat them.

They had no antidotes.

They did not have enough chemical defense equipment.

They could only watch helplessly as the patients died one by one.