Iraq’s Use of Chemical Weapons against Iran: UN Documents 1984 – 1988
Edited by : Dr. Shahriar Khateri
History of Chemical Warfare
Throughout ancient and medieval times poisons (e.g. poison arrows) were commonly used in warfare, although at various times in history societies have tried to limit their use.
The first international agreement limiting the use of chemical weapons dates back to 1675, when a French-German agreement not to use poison bullets was concluded in Strasbourg. Over the next two hundred years, large-scale development of chemical weapons became feasible due to industrialization and the development of chemical technology.
In 1874, the Brussels Convention on the Law and Customs of War was adopted. It prohibited the employment of poison or poisoned weapons, and the use of arms, projectiles or material to cause unnecessary suffering. An international peace
conference held in The Hague in 1899 led to the signing of an agreement that prohibited the use of projectiles filled with poison gas.
