2 Answers 2. The Moon has an orbital eccentricity of 0.0549, so its path around the Earth is not perfectly circular and the distance between the Earth and the Moon will vary from the Earth's frame of reference (Perigee at 363,295 km and apogee at 405,503 km), see for example second animation explaining Lunar librations in this answer.
The attack was part of the Al-Anfal Campaign in northern Iraq, as well as part of the Iraqi attempt to repel the Iranian Operation Zafar 7. It took place 48 hours after the fall of the town to Iranian army. The attack killed between 3,200 and 5,000 people and injured 7,000 to 10,000 more, most of them civilians.
And What Are They Doing? So Wait, How Many US Troops Are Now In Iraq? And What Are They Doing? President Barack Obama ordered up an additional 200 American military troops for deployment in Iraq on Monday, where they will be tasked with helping secure the US Embassy and the Baghdad International Airport.