In March 1988, the Kurdish town of Halabja in Iraq faced a horrifying chemical assault ordered by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. As part of a broader campaign against the Kurdish population during the Iran-Iraq War, this attack utilized a deadly cocktail of chemical agents, including mustard gas and nerve agents. The bombardment began on March 16, 1988, and lasted several hours, leading to the deaths of an estimated 5,000 people, predominantly women and children, while injuring around 10,000 others. Many victims suffered long-term health effects from the exposure to these toxic chemicals.

The choice of Halabja as a target was strategic, as the town was perceived as harboring Kurdish fighters who opposed the Iraqi government. This brutal assault was part of a larger campaign of oppression against the Kurdish population in northern Iraq, which saw widespread human rights violations. The attack shocked the international community, raising awareness about the use of chemical weapons against civilians and the ongoing plight of the Kurds.

In the aftermath, the images and stories of the attack became emblematic of the horrors encountered during the Iran-Iraq War. The devastating impact on Halabja's population led to calls for accountability, though Saddam Hussein would face little immediate consequence for this atrocity until much later in history.