Iraq war tank battles free#

The attack was to be carried out entirely by the regular army, and if successful would boost Banisadr's standing in the still chaotic Iranian political landscape, in addition to trumping the Pasdaran and their supporters. After Banisadr took personal command and arrived at the front, he began planning a major offensive against the Iraqis, codenamed ' Operation Nasr' (Victory). With declining support, President Banisadr convinced Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran (who had the final say in all state matters) to allow him to take personal command of the regular army. It also led to an erosion of Banisadr's revolutionary credentials, as he was increasingly identified as defending and being part of a perceived secular, shah-era entity. Both armies conducted their operations separately and in a thoroughly uncoordinated fashion, while the Pasdaran carried out much of the combat and getting much recognition. As a result, Iran was virtually unable to launch any major offensives other than the air offensive. This severely impeded military operations, and caused a complete lack of coordination. Banisadr began to support the regular army, while IRP supported the Pasdaran. A power struggle began within the new government in Tehran between President Abdulhassan Banisadr and the opposition Islamic Republic Party (IRP), led by Prime Minister Mohammad-Ali Rajai. Meanwhile, the conflict between the Pasdaran and the Army entered a new phase after the war began in 1980.

Meanwhile, a new force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e-Pasdaran) gained prominence. While Iranian paramilitaries and irregulars had slowed the Iraqi drive, it took over three months for Iran to deploy its military to the region.Īfter the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the regular army and air force had suffered due to purges and lack of supplies and spare parts from their former Western allies, especially the US and UK, and was no longer the fifth most powerful military in the world. Being under American sanctions, the Iranians could not get spare parts for much of their military equipment and had to use it sparingly. Nevertheless, Iran lacked the strength to drive the Iraqis out immediately. Iraq's navy also suffered destruction ( Operation Morvarid). By November, the Iraqi invasion force had ground to a halt, and Iran's air force had largely defeated its Iraqi counterpart.

Iraq's invasion slowed drastically, and they became bogged down fighting Iranian paramilitary forces in urban actions such as the First Battle of Khorramshahr. However, their air force (itself weakened by sanctions and purges) managed to hit numerous Iraqi military and industrial targets, damaging the Iraqi military and economy. Iran, which had been weakened drastically by revolution, were caught off-guard. On 22 September 1980, Iraqi military forces under the command of Saddam Hussein invaded Iran. The condition of the terrain prevented a clean break from the battle and did not allow the Iraqi forces to pursue what was left of the Iranians en force. The Iranians withdrew, leaving many destroyed and disabled tanks stuck in the mud, or, because of logistical misplanning, had run out of fuel and ammunition. The Iranians blundered into the ambush and the two tank forces battled for four days in a sea of mud. The Iraqis formed three armored brigades into a three-sided box ambush. The Iraqi forces were alerted to this movement and feigned a withdrawal. Three Iranian armored regiments advanced towards Iraqi forces that had invaded Iranian territory between the cities of Ahvaz, Susangerd and Dezful. It was the biggest tank battle of the Iran–Iraq War. Operation Nasr, fought in early January 1981, was a major battle of the Iran–Iraq War.

Iraq war tank battles free#

Iranian offensives to free Iranian territory (1981–82) Three armored brigades from the 16th and 92nd Armored divisions ( M60s and Chieftain tanks) Three armored brigades from the 6th and 9th Armored divisions ( T-62s) as well as T-72 tanks from the 10th independent armored brigade

Iraqis maintain the siege of Abadan, Ahvaz, Andimeshk, Dezful, Shush, Susangerd as well as continuing to besiege the nearby Air Force Base named Vahdati-all were receiving artillery fire and were hit by Frog-7 missiles.