Fifth Phase: Winter–May 1988
The final and most intense phase of the War of the Cities occurred in the winter of 1988, as Iraq gained the upper hand both militarily and politically. Saddam Hussein ordered an aggressive missile campaign that would be the deadliest of the entire war.
During this period, Iraq launched approximately 189 missiles over 50 days, targeting key Iranian cities. The majority of these missiles were Hussein-modified versions of the Scud-B, a Soviet-designed ballistic missile. Tehran bore the brunt of these attacks, with 135 missiles landing in the capital. Other major targets included Qom (23 missiles), Isfahan (22 missiles), and smaller strikes on Tabriz, Shiraz, and Karaj.
The consequences were devastating. Over 2,000 Iranians were killed, and roughly a quarter of Tehran’s population fled the city to escape the relentless bombardments. Government employees, along with ordinary civilians, abandoned the capital in search of safer areas. This mass displacement significantly disrupted daily life and economic activity in Iran.
In retaliation, Iran launched between 75 and 77 Hwasong-5 missiles, targeting Baghdad and Iraqi military installations. Although these counterattacks caused damage, they did not deter Iraq’s aggression. By this point, Iraq had fully resumed offensive military operations on the ground, signaling a shift away from its earlier defensive posture.