Since 1982, Iraq's ballistic missile forces played a major role in Saddam Hussein's strategy, especially when Iraq modified its imported Scud missiles to develop an extended-range variant: the Al Hussein. This role was confirmed during the first Gulf War, while Iraqi units fired 93 missiles at Israel and Allied forces. In 1991, UN Security Council Resolution 687 did not restrict the development of missiles with a range less than 150 km and Iraqi scientists legally embarked in a steady effort to develop the Al-Samoud, a new short-range ballistic missile based on SA-2 surface-to-air missiles. Several of these efforts, unveiled by UNSCOM between 1991 and 1998, were ambiguous and could have led to a "breakout" capability. After the departure of the UN inspectors, Baghdad produced a limited force of Al-Samoud missiles, and revived some old proscribed projects including a variant capable of ranges greater than 150 km, as well as drone projects. Most of the in-service proscribed missiles were destroyed when the UN inspectors returned to Iraq in 2002. ISG inspections which followed in 2003 seems to point out that none of the proscribed activities undertaken after 1998 to acquire long-range missiles capabilities was ever close to a pre-development stage.

Fouad El Khatib is a former inspector at the UNSCOM. He works for the French Ministry of Defence.