Short summary of the genocidal Anfal campaign by Saddam's Ba'th regime.
Transcript:
The Anfal onslaughts were committed between February 18 and September 6 of 1988.
A large number of Kurdish civilians were killed. It was done in 8 stages according to plan prepared by the Ba’th regime, in the following sequence:
First Anfal: It started on February 18, and lasted a month. The villages of Jaffayati valley, Dukan region, Bingird, Chwarta, Qalacholan, Sarchnar and Surdash were attacked from nine fronts. Nearly 150 villages came under the onslaught. One of the main objectives of this stage of the Anfal, was weakening PUK, which then had part of its leadership headquarters and its forces were in Jaffayati valley and Sargalu. According to Nawshirwan Mustafa, nearly 600 Peshmerga were martyred or wounded.
The First Stage of Anfal was led by Sultan Hashim Ahmad. 20 Iraqi army brigades, 30 Republican Guards regiments and 70 Jash regiments took part in the onslaught.
Second Anfal: This stage started on March 22, 1988. The regions of Qaradagh, Sangaw, Baziyan, Arbat, Zarayan, Nasr and Darbandikhan were attacked from 7 fronts.
The operation was led by Ayad Khaleel Zaki, the commander of Iraq’s National Defense Forces.
In this onslaught chemical weapons were used and most of the villages in those regions were destroyed.
Next tot the Iraqi army units, 77 Jash regiments took part in the onslaught. On April 1 this stage was concluded.
Third Anfal: Known as Garmiyan Anfal or The Black Anfal. It was the most vicious stage. It started on April 7 and covered the regions: Chamchamal, Sangaw, Kifri, Kalar, Qadir-Karam, Duz, Bebaz, Tilako and Laylan. More than 500 villages and 4 district centers were destroyed.
The Anfal reached its peak on April 14; according to estimates by Anfal Victims Committee, on that day alone nearly 20,000 villagers were rounded up. They were later transferred by trucks to the military bastion in Qoratu.
Fourth Anfal: It started on March 3 and ended on March 8, and covered the villages in the regions: Kirkuk, Pirde, Taqtaq, Shwan, Takiya, Koya, Shekh-Bzeni, Akhjalar, Degala and Arbil plain.
In this stage, Goptapa, Askar, Mayla, Sarchima, Shekhan, Kalasher and Rezan valley were attacked by chemical gas.
Next to Iraqi army units, 55 Jash regiments took part in the attack, which was done from 8 fronts.
Fifth, Sixth and Sevenths Anfal: These three stages started on March 15 and lasted more than three months. In these three stages the following regions were attacked: Pirde, Maseef, Shaqlawa, Hiran, Nazaneen Valley, Hareer, Khalifan, Khoshnawati valley, Rawanduz, Soran, Warte valley, Khanaqa Valley, Choman, Hizob, Chwarqurna, Raniya, Qaladize and Qandil mountin.
These stages were commanded by Defense Minister Adnan Khayrolla, Ali Hasan Majeed and Nizar Khazraji. Next to Iraqi army units, 45 Jash regiments took part in them.
Eighth Anfal: The last stage, started in Bahdinan region on August 26 and ended on September 6. This stage covered the regions: Amedi, Atrush, Iminki, Batufa, Zakho, Zawita, Zewa, Deraluk and Kani-masi.