562 Chapter 5
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: On June 16, 1940, Italian naval warplanes raided Salum and Sidi Barrani,
two Egyptian ports in the Mediterranean. The ports are west of Alexandria, near Ital-
ian Libya. The attacks resulted in the death of 30 Egyptian soldiers and civilians. In
September, Italian forces invaded Egypt and around 300,000 soldiers equipped with
arms and air forces were massed along the Libyan-Egyptian border. As Italian forces
poured across the border, British naval and air forces bombed and fired at them. Italy
said the drive was an attack on British forces in Egypt and not Egypt itself. On Octo-
ber 20, Italian planes attacked suburban areas around Cairo.
Coding changes: Added to the dispute: 200 United Kingdom and 220 France. Start
Date changed from June 16, 1940. End Date changed from October 21, 1940.
338 MALTA/645 IRAQ
MID#2548
Dispute Number: 2548
Date(s): March 24, 1985
Participants: 645 Iraq/338 Malta
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: On March 24, 1985, the Iraqi air force raided two oil tankers off the coast
of Iran’s Kharg Island, which serves as a terminal for the government’s oil exports.
One of the oil tankers attacked was the Maltese tanker Eastern Star. The Italian super-
tanker Volere was also hit (see MID#2549).
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 25, 1985. End Date changed from
March 25, 1985.
MID#2815
Dispute Number: 2815
Date(s): June 20, 1987
Participants: 645 Iraq/338 Malta
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Iraqi jets hit a Maltese tanker on June 20, 1987. This followed a one month
lull in attacks by either Iraq or Iran, since hitting an American vessel and killing 37.
338 MALTA/652 SYRIA
MID#3908
Dispute Number: 3908
Date(s): August 29, 1989