Battle of Mehran

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


caption=
date=May-June 1986
place=Mehran, Iran
causus=Iranian invasion of Iraq
territory=City of Mehran
result=Tactical Iranian victory, Saddam Hussein called for the mobilization of the Iraqi Popular Army militiacite web |date=2007 |url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/militia.htm|title = People's Army / Popular Army / People's Militia|format = HTML |publisher = globalsecurity.org| accessdate = 2008-04-24 | last= |quote=]
combatant1=flagcountry|Iraq|1963
combatant2=flagcountry|Iran
strength1=
strength2=
strength3=
casualties1=
casualties2=
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notes=In response to the loss of the al-Faw Peninsula Saddam Hussein pushed into Iran to seize an Iranian city to trade for the strategically important al-Faw Peninsula. He was able to seize the city of Mehran, Iran in May of 1986. He then offered to trade the city for al-Faw but instead of negotiating the Iranians were able to retake the city in June of 1986, humiliating Saddam.

Background

In February of 1986 Iran launched a successful surprise amphibious assault, First Battle of Al-Faw, across the Shatt al-Arab (Arvand rod in Persian) waterway and seized the strategic al-Faw Peninsula. The Iraqi units in charge of the defenses were mostly made up of poorly-trained Iraqi Popular Army conscripts that collapsed when they were suddenly attacked by the Iranian Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guard) forces.

The battle

In May 1986 Iraqi forces captured Mehran, on the western plain of the Zagros Mountains in Ilam Province, and pushed eastward to the mountain base.cite web |date=2008 |url = http://www.iranchamber.com/history/iran_iraq_war/iran_iraq_war2.php|title = Iran–Iraq War 1980-1988|format = HTML |publisher = Iran Chamber Society www.iranchamber.com | accessdate = 2008-04-25 | last= |quote=] Mehran occupied an important position on the major north-south road, close to the border on the Iranian side. Saddam Hussein offered to exchange the captured city for the desired territory of Al-Faw. The occupation lasted only one month, however. Instead of acquiescing, Iranian forces recaptured Mehran and drove off the Iraqis, humiliating Saddam and raising doubts about his ability to win the war.

Aftermath

The loss of the city was humiliating to Saddam and after the battle the Baath Party held an "Extraordinary Congress" and decided on a mobilization of the Iraqi Popular Army. Enlisting men as old as 42 the regime initiated a total call-up of available manpower in 1986. At the time the government feared that response to the mobilization would lead to draft riots but the response was good: young men -- even college students -- reported without incident. The fact that the public answered the call indicated that Iraqis supported their government during the war.

ee also

* Iran–Iraq War
* First Battle of al-Faw

References