Operation Kheibar
Encyclopedia
Operation Kheibar was an Iranian offensive in the Iran-Iraq War
. This operation was part of the Battle of the Marshes
.
in southern Iraq, Iran opened a new front at the lakes of the Hawizeh Marshes. 250,000 Iranian men swept through the Iraqi desert and were met by a mechanized force that slaughtered them. Iran needed air-support but lacked spare parts for the American-made planes. This became a serious problem for Iran and led to heavy casualties.
Iran enjoyed a zealous force of Pasdaran and Basij
, but Iraq could not replace their deaths, forcing them to rely on artillery, air-support, and tanks.
. Iran now was ready to launch the final attack of the battle of the Marshes and if this one would be lost Iraq could easily regain all territory lost in the battle of the Marshes. Iran started their first strategic offensive now, Operation Kheibar. The IRIAF tried their best to support the troops but because they lacked spare parts they could only provide 100 combat sorties per day on average, which was simply not enough. But on the other side the Iraqi air-force had their hands full on the southern front. Because of Iran's lack of aircraft, they used helicopters support for their troops. Eventually the Iranians swept across the marshes and forced the Iraqis out of the Majnoon islands which was a major disaster for Iraq.
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
. This operation was part of the Battle of the Marshes
Battle of the Marshes
The Battle of the Marshes was a part of the Iran–Iraq War.After the unsuccessful Operation Dawn V, Iran opened a new offensive in the lakes of the Hawizeh Marsh in Iraqi Tigris-Euphrates river system....
.
Prelude
After the unsuccessful Operation Dawn VOperation Dawn V
As 1984 began, Iran launched Operation Dawn V, also known as Operation Dawn 5 or Operation Valfajr-5 . The Goal of the offensive was to split the Iraqi 3rd Army Corps and 4th Army Corps near Basra. It was fought between the Pasdaran, Basij and the Iraqi Army...
in southern Iraq, Iran opened a new front at the lakes of the Hawizeh Marshes. 250,000 Iranian men swept through the Iraqi desert and were met by a mechanized force that slaughtered them. Iran needed air-support but lacked spare parts for the American-made planes. This became a serious problem for Iran and led to heavy casualties.
Iran enjoyed a zealous force of Pasdaran and Basij
Basij
The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
, but Iraq could not replace their deaths, forcing them to rely on artillery, air-support, and tanks.
The battle
On February 14, 1984, Iran fought through Iraqi defenses to the oil-rich Majnoon IslandMajnoon Island
Majnoon Island is an island in southern Iraq near Al-Qurnah that is a center for oil production of the Majnoon Oilfield. The area was built out of sand dunes and mud to create pathways for oil pipelines....
. Iran now was ready to launch the final attack of the battle of the Marshes and if this one would be lost Iraq could easily regain all territory lost in the battle of the Marshes. Iran started their first strategic offensive now, Operation Kheibar. The IRIAF tried their best to support the troops but because they lacked spare parts they could only provide 100 combat sorties per day on average, which was simply not enough. But on the other side the Iraqi air-force had their hands full on the southern front. Because of Iran's lack of aircraft, they used helicopters support for their troops. Eventually the Iranians swept across the marshes and forced the Iraqis out of the Majnoon islands which was a major disaster for Iraq.