Yes, Iraq did use anthrax as a part of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program. During the 1980s, Iraq was reported to have acquired anthrax strains from various sources, including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. Iraq is believed to have developed a specialized military unit dedicated to the weaponization of anthrax and other biological agents.
During the Gulf War in 1991, anthrax was believed to have been used by Iraq against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq. Reports of suspected anthrax use in Iraq increased in the mid-1990s, when Iraq was found to have a large stockpile of anthrax spores. In 1998, UN inspectors reported finding evidence of Iraq’s anthrax program in a facility known as Al Hakam. The facility was used to produce biological weapons, including anthrax.
Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, several reports have emerged confirming that Iraq had used anthrax against its own citizens. In 2006, the Iraqi government admitted to having used anthrax against the Kurdish population in Iraq during the 1980s.
Despite Iraq’s admissions, there is still much debate about the extent to which Iraq used anthrax. Some experts argue that Iraq was not in possession of a large enough quantity of anthrax to pose a significant threat to its citizens or its neighbors. Others point to evidence that Iraq did possess a large stockpile of anthrax, and was actively developing and weaponizing the agent.
In any case, Iraq is known to have possessed and used anthrax. The full extent of its use is still unknown, but it is clear that anthrax was part of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program.