In 1982, in the midst of the Iran–Iraq War, in an attempt to show the world that Iraq was stable and safe, Saddam Hussein planned to host an international Non-Aligned Movement conference in the hotel.

Iranian general and fighter pilot Abbas Doran led an air attack on Baghdad to prove Saddam wrong and hit civilian targets in the city.

As a result, the conference was relocated to New Delhi rather than Baghdad, and Doran is revered today as a legendary pilot and martyr in Iran.

Between the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the building was the main housing facility for Western businessmen and diplomats, as well as foreign press.

An additional 12 rockets failed to fire and remained in their tubes in the improvised launcher which was located less than 250 meters (820 ft) from the hotel.

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was staying in the hotel the night of the attack but was unhurt while author and United States Department of Labor official Craig Davis was injured.