Knowledge Tree
Baghdad
Facts (37)
Sources
The Persian Gulf TV War by Douglas Kellner (http://www.gseis.ucla ... pages.gseis.ucla.edu 11 facts
accountThe New York Times reported on August 5 that Iraqi troops were allegedly in the Neutral Zone, a report which Baghdad denied as 'false news'.
accountOn August 3, 1990, King Hussein of Jordan visited Saddam Hussein in Baghdad, where the Iraqi President indicated he was prepared to make major compromises, including a potential withdrawal from Kuwait, and stated he had signed a nonaggression pact with Saudi Arabia.
accountSaddam Hussein told UN Secretary General Pérez de Cuéllar in Baghdad that he would withdraw from Kuwait on August 5, 1990, provided that a mini-summit planned for August 4 in Jeddah was successful.
quotePatrick Tyler reported in the Washington Post: "Saddam called in the ranking U.S. diplomat in Baghdad, and told him categorically that Kuwait now belongs to Iraq and there was no going back, according to Administration officials. 'It's a done deal,' one U.S. official said, characterizing Saddam's message. Another official said Saddam appended a specific warning that if Saudi Arabia shuts down the Iraqi crude oil pipelines that cross the Saudi desert to the Red Sea, Iraq will attack the kingdom. The warning further stated that if American forces intervene in the region, Iraq will 'embarrass' the United States, the official said."
quoteJohn Kelly's statements were broadcast on the World Service of the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] and were heard in Baghdad. At a crucial hour, when war and peace hung in the balance, Kelly had sent Saddam Hussein a signal that could be read as a pledge that the United States would not intervene.
quoteA senior U.S. Administration official stated regarding Arab leaders' attempts to buy off Baghdad: 'The habits of centuries die hard.'
claimDouglas Kellner observes that Washington Post editorial writers and columnists advocated for a military attack on Baghdad prior to President George H.W. Bush's announcement of troop deployments to Saudi Arabia.
accountThe New York Times reported on August 5, 1990, that an Arab mediation summit was postponed, noting that President Saddam Hussein was not prepared to attend and Saudi Arabia feared meeting without him would be perceived as an anti-Baghdad initiative.
accountOn August 6, 1990, the Bush administration expressed concern that Saudi Arabia and other leading Arab countries were not taking the Iraqi threat seriously and were inclined to appease Baghdad by allowing the takeover of Kuwait.
claimBush administration officials disseminated false information regarding a meeting between Saddam Hussein and the U.S. chargé d'affaires in Baghdad to mainstream media outlets.
claimIn October 1989, nine months before Iraq invaded Kuwait, George Bush signed a top-secret directive ordering closer ties with Baghdad and authorizing $1 billion in loan guarantees to finance Iraq's purchase of U.S. agricultural products.
War by Proxy: Iran's Growing Footprint in the Middle East - CSIS csis.org Mar 11, 2019 7 facts
claimThe 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the subsequent establishment of a Shia-dominated government in Baghdad contributed to a rise in Iranian influence and an increase in IRGC-QF-supported militias.
claimLocals in Sunni areas like Al-Anbar Province complain about the proliferation of Shia militias, feel alienated from the Baghdad government, and protest the slow pace of reconstruction following the collapse of the Islamic State’s caliphate.
claimBabak Dehghanpisheh authored a 2014 Reuters special report titled 'Iran’s Men in Baghdad' regarding Iranian influence in Iraq.
claimIran has assisted Shia militia forces in Iraq in building missile production capabilities, with factories reportedly located in Jurf al-Sakhar (north of Kerbala) and Al-Zafaraniya (east of Baghdad).
claimIran has assisted Shia militia forces in Iraq in building missile production capabilities, with factories reportedly located in Jurf al-Sakhar (north of Kerbala) and Al-Zafaraniya (east of Baghdad).
claimIn Sunni-majority areas of Iraq, such as Al-Anbar Province, local residents protest the slow pace of reconstruction following the collapse of the Islamic State and express alienation from the Baghdad government, which they perceive as being too closely aligned with Shia interests and militias.
accountThe 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the subsequent inability of the United States to prevent Iran from filling the power vacuum, combined with the establishment of a Shia-dominated government in Baghdad, contributed to a rise in Iranian influence and an increase in IRGC-QF-supported militias.
After Khamenei: Regional Reckoning and the Future of Iran's Proxy ... stimson.org Mar 2, 2026 3 facts
accountA pro-Iranian Iraqi militia claimed responsibility for drone attacks targeting U.S. troops at Baghdad airport and a U.S. base in Erbil.
claimFor 21 years, Iranian officials claimed they were in control of four Arab capitals: Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, and Sana’a.
claimFor 21 years, Iranian officials claimed control over four Arab capitals: Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, and Sana'a.
Escalation in the Middle East | MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES msf-me.org 3 days ago 2 facts
claimMSF suspended its project in Baghdad, Iraq, in early March 2026, and relocated the team to Erbil, while the Mosul project continues to operate.
claimMSF operates projects in Mosul and Baghdad, Iraq, providing maternity care, pediatrics, neonatology, outpatient consultations, mental health support, and tuberculosis and women’s health services.
Iran War: Kinetic, Cyber, Electronic and Psychological Warfare ... resecurity.com Mar 17, 2026 2 facts
accountMass pro-Iran demonstrations have been reported in Baghdad, Basra, Dhi Qar, and other southern governorates in Iraq, raising concerns about civil unrest.
accountThe U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, has been subjected to drone and rocket launches described as the most intense assault on the facility.
An Integrated U.S. Strategy to Address Iran's Nuclear and Regional ... carnegieendowment.org Oct 26, 2017 2 facts
perspectiveThe United States should use its influence in Baghdad to weaken the Popular Mobilization Units, which are Shia militia groups often supported by Iran, and press the Iraqi government to decommission them or integrate them into the Iraqi security forces.
accountThe United States maintains forces at al-Tanf in Syria, which has successfully cut off Iranian use of the southern and most direct route from Baghdad to Damascus.
The Limits of Iran's Proxy Empire | The New Yorker newyorker.com Mar 12, 2026 2 facts
accountPro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq have attempted small-scale drone and rocket attacks against Israel and have targeted U.S. forces and personnel in Erbil, Baghdad, and Jordan.
accountPro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq have attempted small-scale drone and rocket attacks against Israel and have targeted U.S. forces in Erbil, Baghdad, and Jordan, though few of these attacks caused damage.
The crises in the Middle East: reshaping the region's geopolitical ... link.springer.com Jan 9, 2025 1 fact
claimTensions between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government in Baghdad, along with disputes over territory and resources, have impeded Kurdish aspirations for independence, according to Stansfield and Shareef (2018).
We Bombed the Wrong Target Iran's Proxy Network Strategy irregularwarfare.org Mar 10, 2026 1 fact
claimKataib Hezbollah attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq would pressure the government of Baghdad to demand U.S. withdrawal, which would constitute a political victory for Iran.
Actar Publishers actar.com 1 fact
referenceThe book 'Architecture & Violence', edited by Bechir Kenzari, is a compilation of essays by international architectural theorists examining the relationship between violence and space, specifically in the context of events like the September 11th attacks, the London bombings, the Madrid train explosions, and blasts in Baghdad.
A critical review on techno-economic analysis of hybrid renewable ... link.springer.com Dec 6, 2023 1 fact
referenceDihrab and Sopin analyzed photovoltaic-wind compound systems in Basra, Mosul, and Baghdad, Iraq, finding that Basra has the highest potential for both photovoltaic and wind power generation.
After the War: Rethinking Regional Security in the Middle ... arab-reform.net Mar 13, 2026 1 fact
quoteIn 2015, Iranian officials boasted that “three Arab capitals – Baghdad, Damascus, and Beirut – had ended up in the hands of Iran,” with Sanaa on its way to their orbit.
Iran at a Historical Crossroads - E-International Relations e-ir.info Mar 25, 2025 1 fact
claimIran fears that losing the allegiance of Baghdad would be a disaster with negative consequences inside Iran.
Iran's 'Axis of Resistance': The proxy forces shaping Mideast conflicts latimes.com Mar 1, 2026 1 fact
accountIn January 2020, Donald Trump ordered a drone strike near the Baghdad airport that killed Qassem Suleimani, the head of the Iranian Quds Force, and several high-ranking militia commanders.
Domestic and International Factors Affecting Iranian Foreign Policy ... academia.edu 1 fact
referenceAnoushiravan Ehteshami published 'Iran's International Posture After the Fall of Baghdad' in the Middle East Journal in 2004, analyzing Iran's foreign policy shifts following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.