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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Iraq
Index
In March 1982, Tehran launched its Operation Undeniable
Victory, which marked a major turning point, as Iran penetrated
Iraq's "impenetrable" lines, split Iraq's forces, and forced the
Iraqis to retreat. In late June 1982, Baghdad stated its
willingness to negotiate a settlement of the war and to withdraw
its forces from Iran. Iran refused, and in July 1982 Iran
launched Operation Ramadan on Iraqi territory, near Basra. Tehran
used Pasdaran forces and Basij volunteers in one of the biggest
land battles since 1945. Ranging in age from only nine to more
than fifty, these eager but relatively untrained soldiers swept
over minefields and fortifications to clear safe paths for the
tanks. In doing so, the Iranians sustained an immmense number of
casualties, but they enabled Iran to recover some territory
before the Iraqis could repulse the bulk of the invading forces.
By the end of 1982, Iraq had been resupplied with new Soviet
materiel, and the ground war entered a new phase. Iraq used newly
acquired T-55 tanks and T-62 tanks, BM-21 Stalin Organ rocket
launchers, and Mi-24 helicopter gunships to prepare a Soviet-type
three-line defense, replete with obstacles, minefields, and
fortified positions. The Combat Engineer Corps proved efficient
in constructing bridges across water obstacles, in laying
minefields, and in preparing new defense lines and
fortifications.
In 1983 Iran launched three major, but unsuccessful, humanwave offensives, with huge losses, along the frontier. On
February 6, Tehran, using 200,000 "last reserve" Pasdaran troops,
attacked along a 40-kilometer stretch near Al Amarah, about 200
kilometers southeast of Baghdad. Backed by air, armor, and
artillery support, Iran's six-division thrust was strong enough
to break through. In response, Baghdad used massive air attacks,
with more than 200 sorties, many flown by attack helicopters.
More than 6,000 Iranians were killed that day, while achieving
only minute gains. In April 1983, the Mandali-Baghdad northcentral sector witnessed fierce fighting, as repeated Iranian
attacks were stopped by Iraqi mechanized and infantry divisions.
Casualties were very high, and by the end of 1983, an estimated
120,000 Iranians and 60,000 Iraqis had been killed. Despite these
losses, in 1983 Iran held a distinct advantage in the attempt to
wage and eventually to win the war of attrition.
Data as of May 1988
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