Remembering the First Anfal Operation: February–March 1988

Kurdistan 09:43 AM - 2026-02-23

Anfal Monument in Jafayati Valley.

Today, 23 February 2026, marks the 38th anniversary of the commencement of the first phase of genocide and crimes against humanity carried out against innocent Kurdish civilians under the Anfal operations. These atrocities were perpetrated by the Iraqi state during the era of the now-defunct Ba’athist regime of Saddam Hussein, specifically in 1988, including the siege of the Sargalu area and the Jafayati Valley, where the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) were located.

The Anfal campaign, orchestrated by Saddam Hussein’s dictatorial regime, targeted Kurdish civilians and began on 23 February 1988, continuing until 6 September of the same year. They remain one of the most horrific chapters of mass killings under Ba’athist rule in Iraq.

The first phase of the campaign continued for 26 days, ending on 19 March 1988. The operation was directly overseen by former Iraqi Defence Minister Adnan Khairullah, Ali Hassan al-Majid, head of the Ba’ath Party’s northern office, and Nizar Abdul Karim al-Khazrji, chief of staff of the Iraqi army.

Key Facts About the First Anfal Operation

- Over 100,000 armed personnel participated, including 20 brigades of the Iraqi army, 30 battalions of the Republican Guard, 110 Jash battalions (battalions of operators of the Ba'ath regime in the Kurdistan Region), and units affiliated with local informants.

- Forces attacked villages in the Jafayati Valley along a 70-kilometre front from nine directions. The affected villages included Dukan, Bingird, Chwarta, Qalachwalan, Mawat, Karez, Sarchinar, and Surdash.

- On 23 February 1988, the Iraqi army deployed chemical weapons in Chokhmakh, Yakhsamar, Haladin, Chalaw, Sargalw, and Bargalw.

- On 25–26 February, additional chemical attacks targeted Sargalw, Haladin, Yakhsamar, and Gwezle, resulting in eight deaths and 201 injuries on 26 February alone.

- Four days after the conclusion of the operation, on 23 March, 22 people were killed, and over 720 civilians and Peshmerga fighters were wounded.

- During this phase, the region suffered seven chemical weapon strikes, affecting approximately 150 villages. Homes, mosques, schools, and hospitals were destroyed, and numerous civilians were massacred.

- Many villagers froze to death after being forced from their homes, with over 160 civilians killed and nearly 500 massacred in total during the first operation.

The first Anfal concluded with Official Statement No. 3087 issued by the Armed Forces Command on 19 March 1988.

Context and Legacy

The Anfal campaign, launched by Iraq’s Ba’athist regime under Saddam Hussein, targeted Kurdish civilians from early 1988 until September of that year. It remains one of the most notorious examples of state-sponsored mass murder in modern Iraqi history.

All branches of Iraq’s military and security apparatus were mobilised for the operations, including the First Corps in Kirkuk, the Fifth Corps in Erbil, the Air Force, Special Forces, Republican Guard, Commando Forces, intelligence and security services, military intelligence, and the chemical and biological weapons departments.

The Anfal atrocities claimed the lives of over 182,000 Kurdish civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. Since Iraq’s liberation, 270 mass graves have been discovered, with the majority concentrated between Diwaniyah, Samawah, and Najaf, though many more are believed to remain undiscovered.



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