Battle of the Marshes

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of the Marshes
partof=Iran–Iraq War


caption=
date=1984
place=lakes of the Hawizah Marshes in Iraq
casus=
territory=Iranian invasion of the Majnoun islands
result=Iranian Pyrrhic victory
combatant1=flagicon|Iraq|1963 Iraq
combatant2=flagicon|Iran Iran
combatant3=
commander1=
commander2=
commander3=
strength1=10,000
strength2=250,000
strength3=
casualties1=9,000
casualties2=40,000
casualties3=
notes=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 Hawizah Marshes in Iraqi Tigris-Euphrates river system.

After heavy losses at the beginning due to human wave attacks, 15,000 casualties and little progress, Iran for the first time used a regular army unit: The 92nd Armored Division. Although the badly trained and poorly equipped Iranians suffered heavy losses against the Iraqi artillery, tanks, air strikes and gunboats, Iran eventually managed to invade the Majnoun Islands with Operation Kheibar.

Prelude

250,000 Iranian Pasdaran and Basij soldiers and the 92nd Armored Division swept through the Iraqi deserts to get to the marshes. Iraq met them with a mechanized division that slaughtered the poorly trained and equipped Iranians. However, the Iranian force was too large and the Iraqis, although they were well equipped and enjoyed air support, could not stop them. The Iranian arrival at the Marshes signaled the beginning of one of the wars' largest engagements. The Iranians attacked with human wave attacks and eventually launched Operation Kheibar.

Kheibar

On February 14, 1984, Iran, after fierce fighting and heavy losses, reached the oil-rich Majnoon island. Iran now was ready to launch the final attack of the battle of the Marshes and stakes were high, for if Iran lost the final attack Iraq could easily retake the previously gained ground. Iran started their first strategic offensive now, Operation Kheibar. The Iranian air-force 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 not enough. However, the Iraqi air-force had their hands full on the southern front which prevented their involvement as well. To substitute for the lack of aircraft Iran used helicopters to support their troops. Eventually the Iranians swept across the marshes and forced the Iraqis out of the Majnoon Island which was a major defeat for Iraq.

Aftermath

Although the Iranians suffered greater losses, their large numbers enabled them to continue. Iraq's 9000 casualties, on the other hand, severely inhibited its ability to continue. Iraq was relying on Soviet tanks and artillery and air support. Iran, with three times the size and population of Iraq, relied on sheer numbers due to turmoil caused by the recent revolution that negatively affected the amount of military organization, trade, supplies, and equipment; they were victorious despite inferior equipment. Losing the Majnoun Islands was disastrous for Iraq, as Iran now could easily conquer Baghdad.

Following continuous large-scale attacks using chemical weapons, Iraq was able to retake the Majnoon Islands at the end of the war.

References

* [http://www.iranchamber.com/history/iran_iraq_war/iran_iraq_war2.php Information about it on an Iranian-history related wesite]
* [http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_205.shtml The Mother of all Build-Ups] , Air Combat Information Group
* [http://www.geocities.com/brianjamesdunn/fgwsummaryforweb.html The First Gulf War (Iran and Iraq in the 1980s)]