List of extensive Iranian ground operations in the Iran-Iraq war

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This list of extensive Iranian ground operations in the Iran-Iraq war introduces 28 of the most important Iranian ground operations during the eight years of the Iran-Iraq war, which are known as extensive operations. In this article, extensive operations are classified into 3 categories, northern front, middle front and southern front, based on the operational front. The set of information introduced for each operation includes: the name of the operation, the date of the start and end of the operation, the area of the operation, the code of the operation, the forces operating in each operation and a summary of the most important achievements in each operation.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Southern front

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Name of the operation Start date End date Battle zone Operation code Operating forces Operation results
Operation Dezful October 15, 1980 October 20, 1980 Andimeshk, Karkheh river, west of Naderi bridge, Qahveh Kaneh three-way - Army The Iranian Army aimed to halt Iraq’s advance but was repelled by a flank counterattack. Poor decisions, a purge of commanders after the Nojeh coup plot, and underestimating Iraqi firepower led to a retreat to the east bank of the Dez River near Dezful.
Operation Nasr January 5, 1981 January 8, 1981 Hoveyzeh, Karkheh Koor, Dasht-e Azadegan - Army and Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line Three Iranian armored regiments advanced on Iraqi forces near Ahvaz, Susangerd, and Dezful. Alerted, the Iraqis feigned retreat and set a three-sided ambush. After four days of muddy tank battles, the Iranians withdrew, abandoning many damaged tanks. This was the biggest tank battle of the war.
Tawakkul Operation January 10, 1981 January 10, 1981 North of Abadan, Mahshahr three-way - Army The effort of Iranian forces to prevent the siege of Abadan and prevent Iraqi forces from passing through Karun failed.
Operation Farmandeh Kole Ghowa June 11, 1981 June 15, 1981 Abadan, Darkhoveyn - IRGC Iranian victory
Operation Samen-ol-A'emeh September 27, 1981 September 27, 1981 - Arabic: نصرمن‌الله و فتحٌ‌قریب Army and IRGC Recapturing the eastern bank of the Karun River - removing Abadan from the one-year siege - liberating more than 150 square kilometers of land occupied by the Iraqi army - the most classic operation of the Iranian forces during the war, which was completely based on military principles.
Operation Tariq al-Quds November 29, 1981 December 6, 1981 North and South of Karkheh, Dasht-e Azadegan Arabic: حسین‌بن‌علی Army and IRGC Liberation of Bostan and 70 villages in the region and 5 border checkpoints - occupation of Allaho Akbar region and Chazabeh Defile.
Operation Fath ol-Mobin March 22, 1982 March 30, 1982 West of Karkheh Arabic: یازهرا (س) Army and IRGC Recapture of 2,500 square kilometers of Iranian territory from Iraqi forces - Liberation of the strategic road from Dezful to Dehloran - Capture of Abu Gharib oil wells in the Tineh Heights - Capture of 15,000 Iraqi soldiers by Iranian forces.
Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas April 30, 1982 May 24, 1982 Khorramshahr, Dasht-e Azadegan Arabic: یا علی‌ابن‌ابیطالب علیه‌السّلام Army and IRGC Liberation of Khorramshahr and Hoveyzeh area and Hamid barracks - destruction of 20% of the Iraqi army - liberation of 5038 square kilometers from the occupied areas - extensive withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Khuzestan province and their positioning around the city of Basra to counter a possible attack by Iranian forces
Operation Ramadan July 13, 1982 July 29, 1982 East of Basra Arabic: یا صاحب‌الزمان ادرکنی Army and IRGC It featured the use of human wave attacks in the largest land battle since World War II. The engagement was a part of the overall stalemate, and was the first encounter of the Iranian forces with the triangular trenches. This resulted in the failure of Basra's siege, which was the objective of the operation.
Operation Muslim ibn Aqil October 1, 1982 October 7, 1982 Sumar region Arabic: یا ابوالفضل العباس Army and IRGC The Iranian operation aimed to capture heights overlooking Mandali, secure the middle-front border, protect liberated Iranian territory, and expel Iraqi forces west of Sumar. The operation was successful.
Operation Muharram November 1, 1982 November 11, 1982 Musian - "Miyan Hamrin" border heights - southeast of Dehloran Arabic: یا زینب (س) Army and IRGC Seizing the Musian and Bayat oil resources as well as the Zubaidat oil ponds, which consisted of 700 oil wells - Seizing the road from Tayyeb to Shahrani - Seizing the supply road from Baghdad to Basra - The troops reached the 50 km long border point. The first motorcycle RPG battalion was used in this operation.
Operation Before the Dawn February 6, 1983 February 10, 1983 Fakkeh, Chazabeh Arabic: یاالله-یاالله-یاالله IRGC Iranian forces launched an offensive near Amarah, 200 km southeast of Baghdad, led by the IRGC with army support. The operation resulted in heavy Iranian losses due to poor air support and intense Iraqi artillery and airstrikes. The offensive failed to capture the Ghazilah bridge and Amarah city.
Operation Dawn April 10, 1983 April 17, 1983 Jebele Foqi - north of Fakkeh Arabic: یاالله-یاالله-یاالله Army The partial achievement of the Iranian forces to the desired heights - the weakness of the command of the ground forces due to excessive reliance on the artillery unit - the failure to join the units to each other after the end of the operation - the retreat of the Iranian forces to their previous positions after a few days.
Operation Dawn 2 July 20, 1983 August 4, 1983 Haji Omeran - Army and IRGC Cooperation of Barzani Kurds with Iranian forces - the leak of the operation by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan to the Iraqi forces - 80% of the objectives of the operation were realized. Also, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran exposed many documents obtained about them.
Operation Kheibar February 22, 1984 March 12, 1984 Hawizeh Marshes Arabic: یا رسول‌الله Army and IRGC In the northern axis of the operation (Al-Aziz), Iranian forces were able to reach the Tigris River and cut off the traffic of vehicles on the Basra-Baghdad route. Capture of two Majnoon Island with an area of 160 square kilometers - Capture of 50 oil wells - Iraq's extensive use of chemical weapons - The start of tanker war
Operation Badr March 10, 1985 March 17, 1985 Hawizeh Marshes - north of Basra Arabic: یا فاطمه‌الزّهرا (س) Army and IRGC The slow progress of Iranian forces in Iraqi positions to the east of the Tigris and the failure to cross it - the inability of Iranian forces to fire properly at Iraqi forces due to the lack of facilities - retreat from half of the captured areas after a week - the start of the city war
Operation Ghader July 15, 1985 September 9, 1985 Erbil province of Iraq - Army and IRGC Liberation of Sarsepandar, Kalazardeh and Barbarzindoost heights
Operation Dawn 8 February 9, 1986 April 18, 1986 Faw peninsula Arabic: یا فاطمه‌الزهرا (س) IRGC and Army The capture of the city of Faw, Ras al-Bisheh, the Faw road to Basra - cutting off Iraq's access to the Persian Gulf - the most extensive use of chemical weapons during the war by the Iraqi army - the capture of 3,000 Iraqi soldiers by Iranian forces - the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 582 - the construction of the "Basat" bridge Using 5,000 pipes on Arvand River - chemical injury of more than 15,000 Iranian soldiers in 17 days - Robert McFarlane's arrival in Tehran.
Operation Karbala-4 December 24, 1986 December 26, 1986 West of Minu Island - Abu Al-Khaseeb Arabic: محمدرسول‌الله IRGC The operation plan was leaked before it began because AWACS planes picked up the information - blocking the digging of the canal in the main passage of the Axis and filling it with Mazut to defeat the Iranian forces - the failure of the Iranian forces in capturing the islands of Umm ar-Rasas and Abu Al-Khaseeb after 48 hours and the order to stop Operations by commanders.
Siege of Basra January 9, 1987 February 23, 1987 East of Basra Arabic: یا زهرا (س) IRGC and Army Approval of Resolution 598 - Advancement of 12 km towards Basra - Capture of 11 Iraqi Army Camps - Liberation of 150 km of Iran's territory - Destruction of 81 independent brigades and battalions of the Iraqi Army - Capture of Bubiyan Lake - Liberation of 4 Iranian border posts.
Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas 7 June 12, 1988 June 15, 1988 Shalamcheh Arabic: یا اباعبدالله‌الحسین IRGC The purpose of this operation was only to weaken the morale and war machine of Iraq in the southern part of the fish breeding channel. Iranian forces returned to their original positions with the first Iraqi attack without any resistance.
Operation Labbeik Ya Khomeini West of Karun Arabic: فنای‌فی‌الله IRGC

Middle front

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Name of the operation Start date End date Battle zone Operation code Operating forces Operation results
Battle of Mehran June 30, 1986 July 10, 1986 Qalavizan heights to Mehran city Arabic: یا اباالفضل‌العباس ادرکنی IRGC and Army Recapture of the city of Mehran and the strategic heights of Qalavizan and Hamrin - liberation of the road from Dehloran to Mehran - liberation of 2 border checkpoints.
Operation Karbala-6 January 14, 1987 January 14, 1987 Naft Shahr and north of Sumar Arabic: یا زهرا (س) Army Iranian forces achieved victory in liberating Iran's "Naft Shahr" city and Iraq's "Naft Khaneh" city.

Northern front

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Name of the operation Start date End date Battle zone Operation code Operating forces Operation results
Operation Dawn-4 October 19, 1983 November 21, 1983 Penjwen Arabic: یاالله-یاالله-یاالله Army, IRGC and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan The Iraqi army's resistance in the region exceeded initial expectations, prompting both sides to significantly escalate their efforts. As a result, Operation Dawn-4 evolved from a limited engagement into a large-scale offensive. During the operation, Iranian forces succeeded in capturing approximately 700 square kilometers of Iraqi territory.
Operation Ghader November 21, 1983 September 9, 1985 Sidekan Arabic: یا صاحب‌الزمان (عج) Army Following the failure of Badr operation, operational leadership was transferred to the regular army, including responsibility for liberating the Oshnavieh-Piranshahr area, previously held by the IRGC. However, the army also failed, attempting and failing to capture the area three times over two months before ultimately halting the operation.
Operation Karbala 10 April 14, 1987 April 25, 1987 Baneh, Sardasht, Mavout axis Arabic: یا صاحب‌الزمان ادرکنی IRGC and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan The slow advance of Iranian forces on the difficult roads of the region - failure to achieve half of the initial goals of the operation - advancement of 34 kilometers in Iraqi territory - grounding of the forces of both sides in the heights of Shakh Qoolan.
Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas 2 January 15, 1988 January 22, 1988 The height of Qomish, Sulaymaniyah, Mavout Arabic: یا زهرا (س) IRGC Iran's first operation was in the winter, which brought a partial victory in order to score points for the end of the war - the capture of the heights of Qomish, Vivlan and the Goujar Strait were the achievements of this operation.
Operation Dawn 10 March 14, 1988 March 19, 1988 Halabja, Sulaymaniyah Arabic: یا رسول‌الله (ص) IRGC and Army This operation was a complete success and the towns of Halabja, Dojileh and Khurmal were captured by Iranian forces - the siege of the Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah - the chemical bombing of the Iraqi city of Halabja by the Ba'ath regime
Operation Mersad July 26, 1988 July 30, 1988 Kermanshah province Arabic: یا صاحب‌الزمان عجل‌الله تعالی وجه‌الشریف Army and IRGC The last battle of the Iran-Iraq war. The Iranian army and Revolutionary Guard moved north from Khuzestan, encircling and suppressing the remaining resistance in the city of Kerend-e Gharb on 29 July 1988 - Acceptance of the Resolution 598 by Saddam Hussein - expressing Britain's desire to re-establish diplomatic relations - sending UN peacekeeping forces to the borders of the two countries and establishing lasting peace.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ درّی (۱۳۸۳), حسن. اطلس راهنما ۵- «کارنامه نبردهای زمینی» [Guide Atlas 5- "Land Battle Record"] (in Persian). تهران: به کوشش مهدی انصاری، مرکز مطالعات و تحقیقات جنگ، شابک ۸-۴۸-۶۳۱۵-۹۶۴.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "نگاهی به عملیات‌های زمینی گسترده ایران در جنگ ایران و عراق" [A look at Iran's extensive ground operations in the Iran-Iraq war] (in Persian). Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  3. ^ "۱۰ عملیات مهم دفاع مقدس" [10 important holy defense operations] (in Persian). Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  4. ^ "مهمترین عملیات های نظامی دوران ۸ ساله دفاع مقدس" [The most important military operations during the 8-year period of holy defense] (in Persian). Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  5. ^ "لیست عملیات‌های دفاع مقدس" [List of sacred defense operations] (in Persian). Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  6. ^ "مهمترین عملیات‌های زمینی ایران در جنگ تحمیلی" [The most important ground operations of Iran in the imposed war] (in Persian). Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. ^ "فهرست عملیات‌های زمینی گسترده ایران در جنگ ایران و عراق" [List of extensive ground operations of Iran in the Iran-Iraq war] (in Persian). Retrieved 17 October 2024.
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