Battle of the Marshes
Encyclopedia
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 Iraq
i 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
.
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 from getting onto the beach. 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
. A partial draining of the Hawizeh Marsh
prior to the battle alleviated some of the obstacles that a marsh environment could bring forth for ground units.
. 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. The Iraqi soldiers were ordered to fight as long as possible(Evidently to the last man) to give time for Iraqi reinforcements to reach Majnoon Island. 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 away from the beach of Majnoon Island which was a minor defeat for Iraq.
After the unsuccessful Operation Dawn V
Operation 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...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
opened a new offensive in the lakes of the Hawizeh Marsh
Hawizeh Marshes (Iraq/Iran)
The Hawizeh Marshes are a complex of marshes that straddle the Iraq and Iran border. The marshes are fed by the Tigris River in Iraq and Karkheh River in Iran...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i Tigris-Euphrates river system
Tigris-Euphrates river system
The Tigris–Euphrates river system is part of the palearctic Tigris-Euphrates alluvial salt marsh ecoregion, in the flooded grasslands and savannas biome, located in West Asia.-Geography:...
.
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
Operation Kheibar
Operation Kheibar was an Iranian offensive in the Iran-Iraq War. This operation was part of the Battle of the Marshes.-Prelude:After the unsuccessful Operation Dawn V in southern Iraq, Iran opened a new front at the lakes of the Hawizeh Marshes. 250,000 Iranian men swept through the Iraqi desert...
.
Prelude
250,000 Iranian Pasdaran and BasijBasij
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...
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 from getting onto the beach. 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
Operation Kheibar
Operation Kheibar was an Iranian offensive in the Iran-Iraq War. This operation was part of the Battle of the Marshes.-Prelude:After the unsuccessful Operation Dawn V in southern Iraq, Iran opened a new front at the lakes of the Hawizeh Marshes. 250,000 Iranian men swept through the Iraqi desert...
. A partial draining of the Hawizeh Marsh
Hawizeh Marshes (Iraq/Iran)
The Hawizeh Marshes are a complex of marshes that straddle the Iraq and Iran border. The marshes are fed by the Tigris River in Iraq and Karkheh River in Iran...
prior to the battle alleviated some of the obstacles that a marsh environment could bring forth for ground units.
Operation Kheibar
On February 14, 1984, Iran, after fierce fighting and heavy losses, reached 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 stakes were high, for if Iran lost the final attack Iraq could easily retake the previously gained ground. The Iraqi soldiers were ordered to fight as long as possible(Evidently to the last man) to give time for Iraqi reinforcements to reach Majnoon Island. Iran started their first strategic offensive now, Operation Kheibar
Operation Kheibar
Operation Kheibar was an Iranian offensive in the Iran-Iraq War. This operation was part of the Battle of the Marshes.-Prelude:After the unsuccessful Operation Dawn V in southern Iraq, Iran opened a new front at the lakes of the Hawizeh Marshes. 250,000 Iranian men swept through the Iraqi desert...
. 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 away from the beach of Majnoon Island which was a minor defeat for Iraq.