A large scale government offensive attack against the refugees estimated 10,000 fighters and 200,000 displaced persons hiding in the marshes began in March–April 1992, using fixed-wing aircraft; a U.S. Department of State report claimed that Iraq dumped toxic chemicals in the waters in an effort to drive out the opposition. In July 1992, the government began trying to drain the marshlands and ordered the residents of settlements to evacuate, after which the army burned down their homes there to prevent them from returning.
A large-scale government offensive attack against refugees, estimated to involve 10,000 fighters and 200,000 displaced persons hiding in the marshes, began in March–April 1992, using fixed-wing aircraft; a U.S. Department of State report claimed that Iraq used toxic chemicals in the water to drive out the opposition. In July 1992, the government started draining the marshlands and ordered residents of settlements to evacuate, after which the army burned down their homes to prevent them from returning.