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 The
Path to War
Iraq's Forces
Coalition Forces
Weapons of War
Allied
bases
Where
Iraq's missiles can hit
Saddam Hussein has more than 400,000 men at his immediate
disposal in case of war. The full-time army is some 424,000
troops, while there are a further 650,000 reservists available
for quick mobilisation.
Iraq is believed to have 316 aircraft in its Air Force -
it had more than 700 during the Gulf War in 1991 - and some
30,000 personnel.
It has an estimated 2200 battle tanks, 2000 pieces of artillery
and just under 400 helicopters.
The Iraqi Navy is small and includes fast attack craft, missile
boats, large and small patrol crafts and minesweepers.
Of most concern to Allied commanders is Iraq's missile capability,
which can launch rockets into neighbouring countries. Saudi
Arabia and Israel were both hit by Scud missiles during the
Gulf War in 1991.
Hussein is believed to have some 200
long-range missile launchers and Allied specialist troops
are currently on missions inside Iraq to locate them so they
can be hunted down in a war.
The long-range missiles may be able to carry biological,
nuclear or chemical warheads.
They can be used tactically - against Allied ground forces
- forcing US and other troops to fight in special equipment
that would hamper their operations, or be used strategically
- against Israel - to try to draw the Jewish state into the
conflict and create problems with Arab nations friendly with
America.
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