Operation Scorch Sword

Operation Scorch Sword
Part of Iran–Iraq War
Map of the operation
Operational scope	Strategic
Location	Baghdad, Iraq 33°12′30″N 44°31′30″E / 33.20833°N 44.52500°E / 33.20833; 44.52500
Planned by	Major General Javad Fakoori (the commander of the IRIAF)
Objective	Destruction of the Osirak nuclear reactor
Date	30 September 1980
Executed by	Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Outcome	Reactor damaged

Operation Scorch Sword (Persian: عملیات شمشیر سوزان‎‎) was a surprise airstrike carried out by Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) on 30 September 1980, that damaged an almost-complete nuclear reactor 17 km south-east of Baghdad, Iraq. Eight days into the Iran–Iraq War, Operation Scorch Sword commenced. At dawn on 30 September 1980, four Iranian F-4E Phantom jets refueled mid-air near the Iran-Iraq border. After crossing into Iraq, the fighters climbed to a higher altitude to be detectable by Iraqi radar. Moments later, two of the Phantoms peeled off, and dropped to a lower altitude again to avoid radar detection. They flew stealthily to Tuwaitha, a city ten miles (17 km) southeast of Baghdad, home to the Osirak/Osiraq nuclear reactor.

This was the first attack on a nuclear reactor and only the third on a nuclear facility in history. It was also the first instance of a preventive attack on a nuclear reactor, the intent of which was to forestall the development of a nuclear weapon. The attack itself caused only minor damage to the reactor and wasn't successful in impeding the Iraqi nuclear program.

The reactor was finally destroyed about eight months later by Israeli Air Force's Operation Opera carried out on 7 June 1981.

Iraq had established a nuclear program sometime in the 1960s, and in the mid-1970s looked to expand it through the acquisition of a nuclear reactor. After failing to convince the French government to sell them a plutonium-producing reactor and reprocessing plant, and likewise failing to convince the Italian government to sell them a CIRENE-style reactor, the Iraqi government convinced the French government to sell them an Osiris-class research reactor. The purchase also included a smaller accompanying Isis-type reactor, the sale of 72 kilograms of 93% enriched uranium and the training of personnel. The total cost has been given as $300 million. In November 1975 the countries signed a nuclear cooperation agreement and in 1976 the sale of the reactor was finalized.