The impact of the oil tankers in the Arabian Gulf 1980-1988 in the Iraqi air attack on the US US SSS Stark 1987 and its implications

Abstract

The research aims to shed light on a major event that occupied the world opinion during the Iran-Iraq War in 1980-1988. The research addressed an important part of the war, represented by the oil tanker war in the Arabian Gulf, as each of the two countries followed its own strategy in attacking oil tankers, each with its own goal. Iraq’s goal was to internationalize the war and weaken the Iranian economic side. After Iran’s refusal to end the war, the Iraqi leadership decided to intensify its attacks on oil tankers and attack those tankers belonging to neutral countries. In one of the air sorties, Iraqi aircraft hit the American frigate USS Stark, which killed more than 37 sailors. Opinions differed about the mechanism of the attack, whether it was deliberate or by mistake. However, the American side accepted the Iraqi apology and was satisfied with financial compensation without the incident creating any crisis in the relationship between the two countries. However, the American community greatly criticized the American policy and demanded that the American government refrain from involving the United States in the Gulf War because of the arrangements that the war could cause. However, the American government did not comply with these criticisms, but rather looked to its interests above all names, especially after the fear The United States felt towards the Soviet Union after the latter's intervention in the Gulf waters under the motive of international protection, as well as the American interest in oil interests, which was a major factor that prompted the United States of America to use all means to intervene in the Gulf region.