These Were the Mistakes of Saddam's Regime in Iraq During the 2003 US Ground Invasion That Iran Has Learned From

In war, combat doctrines are tested in the field, and their effectiveness is measured under the pressure of reality. From there emerge lessons that reshape strategic thinking, as well as prompting the armed forces to review combat tactics and military structure in facing threats.

Iran was involved in a fierce war with Iraq from 1980 to 1988, which ended with a ceasefire agreement without either side succeeding in defeating the other.

The Iraqi army collapsed in less than seven weeks in 2003 following the invasion led by the American-British coalition forces.

This prompted Iran’s military leaders to study the course of that war in order to draw lessons for the future, especially if they become involved in a war against the United States.

Titled “Why Was Iraqi Resistance to the Coalition Invasion So Weak?”, the book published by the Rand Corporation in 2007 highlights the early phases of the coalition’s campaign.

Regarding the book, Stephen Simon, former Director of Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the US National Security Council, said, “My previous colleague at the Rand Corporation, Stephen T Hosmer, was tasked by the Air Force to analyse the reasons for the sudden collapse of the Iraqi military forces. He wrote his book, which heavily relies on interviews with prisoners of war as well as former Iraqi regime officials, and it remains to this day a leading analysis on the topic.”