On 22 September 1980, Saddam Hussein, attempting to repeat the success of the Israeli pre-emptive air strike against the Arab air forces in the Six Day War, launched numerous sorties against Iranian airfields, hoping to destroy the Iranian air force on the ground. Although they failed, Saddam was still not going to be stopped from achieving his aim of establishing complete Iraqi dominance over the Shatt al-Arab waterway. He launched a land invasion of Iran, focusing on southern Iran.
He was able to achieve success, capturing the major Iranian city of Khorramshahr. Although the Iraqis were not able to capture the city of Abadan, the way was open to Tehran as the Iranian defenses had collapsed. The Iraqi advance was halted at the Karun and Karkheh rivers respectively and now Iran was able to counter-attack. Although their first counter-attack was a failure, this one would be successful.
On 22 March 1982, the Iranians launched Operation Fath ol-Mobin. They intended to use a pincer movement to encircle Iraqi forces who had halted outside the Iranian town of Shush. Under the command of the young Iranian Chief-of-Staff, Lieutenant General Ali Sayad Shirazi, the …show more content…
Known Iranian units appear to be regulars and militia for Iran and the 77th Mechanized Infantry Division. The Times refers to Iraq retreating its Fourth Army Corp to new positions. They had been entrenched in positions to the West of Dezful and Sush. Iran described the Fourth Army as having been comprised of three Divisions and said that it had been destroyed. The battlefield showed scores of destroyed tanks and armored personnel carriers confirming reports that there had been fierce fighting for the 10 days that Operation Fath ol-Modin had lasted. It is reported that states that, although the Iraqis never crossed the Karkheh River, they were able to shell the city and its vital Vahdati air
He was able to achieve success, capturing the major Iranian city of Khorramshahr. Although the Iraqis were not able to capture the city of Abadan, the way was open to Tehran as the Iranian defenses had collapsed. The Iraqi advance was halted at the Karun and Karkheh rivers respectively and now Iran was able to counter-attack. Although their first counter-attack was a failure, this one would be successful.
On 22 March 1982, the Iranians launched Operation Fath ol-Mobin. They intended to use a pincer movement to encircle Iraqi forces who had halted outside the Iranian town of Shush. Under the command of the young Iranian Chief-of-Staff, Lieutenant General Ali Sayad Shirazi, the …show more content…
Known Iranian units appear to be regulars and militia for Iran and the 77th Mechanized Infantry Division. The Times refers to Iraq retreating its Fourth Army Corp to new positions. They had been entrenched in positions to the West of Dezful and Sush. Iran described the Fourth Army as having been comprised of three Divisions and said that it had been destroyed. The battlefield showed scores of destroyed tanks and armored personnel carriers confirming reports that there had been fierce fighting for the 10 days that Operation Fath ol-Modin had lasted. It is reported that states that, although the Iraqis never crossed the Karkheh River, they were able to shell the city and its vital Vahdati air