The issue of missing soldiers from the Iran-Iraq war continues to haunt families nearly four decades after the conflict ended. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) revealed that over 52,000 Iraqi soldiers and roughly 12,000 Iranian soldiers remain unaccounted for since the eight-year war from 1980 to 1988.
Avin Yasin, media officer of the ICRC’s Erbil office, said Iraq and Iran have actively worked to locate missing soldiers. They also implemented a trilateral mechanism under a 2008 memorandum of understanding with the ICRC. This agreement helps identify the missing and return remains to families on both sides.
The Iran-Iraq war claimed nearly one million lives from each country. Since the agreement, authorities have returned more than 5,300 remains, including 4,213 Iraqis. The latest exchange on October 5 returned 70 Iraqi and 40 Iranian soldiers’ remains through the Shalamcheh border crossing.
Joint committees continue field searches across both countries. Yasin explained that authorities complete legal procedures once they confirm a soldier’s identity. Iraq’s Defense Ministry then delivers the remains under ICRC supervision.
Despite these efforts, thousands of families still do not know their loved ones’ whereabouts. “Thousands of families remain unaware of their loved ones’ fate,” Yasin said. “We continue supporting the relevant authorities to provide answers.”
Returning remains brings closure and hope to families who have waited decades. The ICRC emphasizes the humanitarian importance of reconnecting families with their missing loved ones.
The missing soldiers from the Iran-Iraq war highlight the conflict’s tragic scale and ongoing humanitarian challenges. Iraq, Iran, and the ICRC work continuously to solve this decades-old issue. Families remain at the center of these efforts, while field teams actively locate and identify soldiers’ remains.
Overall, returning the soldiers honors their sacrifice and strengthens cooperation between Iraq and Iran. Resolving the fate of the missing soldiers from the Iran-Iraq war continues to remain a top humanitarian priority.
