- Operation Karbala-6
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Operation Karbala-6 Part of Iran-Iraq War Date Early 1987 Location Qasr Shirin, Iraq Result Strategic Iranian victory Belligerents 
Iraq
IranStrength A few thousand 10,000 Basij
The 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division
The Pasdaran 31st 'Ashoora' divisionCasualties and losses Heavy Heavy Related U.S. operations in bold
Kaman 99 – Abadan – 1st Khorramshahr – Morvarid – Dezful – Undeniable Victory – 2nd Khorramshahr – Samen-ol-A'emeh – Jerusalem Way – Jerusalem – Ramadan – Before the Dawn – Dawn 1 – Dawn 2 – Dawn 3 – Dawn 4 – Dawn 5 – Dawn 6 – Marshes – Kheibar – Badr – Al-Anfal Campaign – 1st Al Faw – Dawn 8 – Karbala 4 – Karbala-5 – Karbala-6 – USS Stark Incident – Karbala Ten – Nasr 4 – Earnest Will – Prime Chance – Eager Glacier – Nimble Archer – Halabja – Zafar 7 – 2nd Al Faw – Praying Mantis – Air Flight 655 Incident – Mersad
Operation Karbala-6 was an Iranian operation during the Iran-Iraq War to prevent Iraq from rapidly transferring units to its defense lines at Basra after Iran had launched Operation Karbala-5 to capture the city of Basra.Operation Karbala-6 involved 2 of the most powerful divisions in the Iranian army: the Army's 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division, and the Pasdaran’s 31st 'Ashoora' division. The 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division was armed with helicopter gun ships, tanks, 106mm, 130mm and 230mm artillery and the 31st 'Ashoora' division was armed with captured Iraqi tanks.
Contents
Prelude
As Operation Karbala-5 was launched to capture the city of al-Basra the Operations Karbala-6 at Qasr Shirin and Karbala-7 in Iraqi Kurdistan where launched to stop the Iraqis from transferring units to their defense lines in Basra. For the Operation around 10,000 Basij Militants , 1 regular army division and 1 Pasdaran division where used for this offensive. The Basijis where lined up early in the morning and sent on offence earlier than was planned because the enemy was expecting something.
The battle
10,000 Basij volunteers attacked. As they advanced, the Iraqis abandoned their positions. Iraqi troops then counter-attacked with armor and surrounded the Basij, who were only armed with Kalashnikovs. Many Basij volunteers were killed in the fighting with the surrounding Iraqi trooos. The Iranian 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division and the 31st 'Ashoora' division attacked the Iraqi forces. Iraqi forces suffered heavy losses. The Iranian 77 mechanized division broke through the encirclement.
See also
- Iran-Iraq War
- Operation Karbala-5
- Operation Karbala-7
References
Categories:- 1987 in Iraq
- Battles involving Iran
- Battles involving Iraq
- Military operations of the Iran–Iraq War
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