Iraq, Iran exchange war dead from ’80s

Baghdad —- Iraq and Iran on Sunday exchanged the remains of 241 soldiers killed during an eight-year war between the two countries —- the latest sign of increased cooperation between the neighboring nations that were fierce rivals under Saddam Hussein.

It was the first such handover since the two sides signed an agreement in October to work together in tracing tens of thousands still missing after the war.

The Iraqis and the Iranians have previously exchanged remains and prisoners of war, but Sunday’s pomp-filled ceremony raised hope that the agreement could lead to closure for the relatives of those killed or missing on both sides.

“We hope that this tragedy ends as soon as possible and this file is closed forever … so that the families can have some rest after learning the fate and the whereabouts of their loved ones,” said Mahdi al-Tamimi, an official in Iraq’s Human Rights Ministry.

The remains of 200 Iraqis and 41 Iranians were returned to their native countries at the Shalamcha border crossing near the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Only 23 of the Iraqi and 10 of the Iranian remains have been identified, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which oversaw the handover.

Mourners threw roses on the flag-covered wooden coffins, crying and beating their chests as the remains were borne by Iraqi soldiers and Iranian sailors to the border from both sides. Women shrouded in black Islamic robes wept as a brass band played for the procession.

More than 1 million people from both sides were killed or reported missing during the 1980-88 war.

Iraq and Iran agreed in mid-October to work together to gather and share information about the missing and to hand over any remains uncovered. It was the first direct agreement to tackle the problem together. Previously, each side dealt separately with the Red Cross.

Hopeful relatives with missing loved ones attended the ceremony, but officials said nobody on the Iraqi side claimed any of the returned bodies.

Jawad Kadhum Hamadi, a 38-year-old photographer from Basra, joined two others at the ceremony hoping to find the names of missing family members on the list of those remains identified as part of the exchange.

Hamadi’s brother, Ahmed, has been missing since 1984 during fierce battles in eastern Basra with the Iranian forces.

“I didn’t find his name in the lists,” Hamadi said. “But yet, the hope inside me has not died.”