Editing Iran–Iraq War (section)

====Attack on H3====
[[File:Operation H3 map.png|thumb|upright=1|The [[H-3 airstrike|surprise attack on H-3 airbase]] is considered to be one of the most sophisticated air operations of the war.|right]]

The Iraqi Air Force, badly damaged by the Iranians, was moved to the [[H-3 Air Base]] in western Iraq, near the [[Jordan]]ian border and away from Iran. However, on 3 April 1981, the Iranian air force used eight F-4 Phantom fighter bombers, four F-14 Tomcats, three [[Boeing 707]] refuelling tankers, and one [[Boeing 747]] command plane to launch a surprise [[attack on H3]], destroying 27–50 Iraqi fighter jets and bombers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iiaf.net/stories/warstories/s1.html|title=Assault on Al-Wallid|website=Imperial Iraniasn Air Force|access-date=9 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011172153/http://iiaf.net/stories/warstories/s1.html|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite the successful attack (in addition to other air attacks), the Iranian Air Force was forced to cancel its successful 180-day air offensive and abandoned their attempted control of Iraqi [[airspace]]. They had been seriously weakened by sanctions and pre-war purges and further damaged by a fresh purge after the [[Abolhassan Banisadr#Impeachment|impeachment crisis of President Banisadr]].<ref name="csis 5">{{cite web|last=Cordesman|first=Anthony|title=Lessons of Modern Warfare: The Iran Iraq War Chapter V|url=http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/9005lessonsiraniraqii-chap05.pdf|access-date=4 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911152946/http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/9005lessonsiraniraqii-chap05.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The Iranian Air Force could not survive further attrition, and decided to limit their losses, abandoning efforts to control Iraqi [[airspace]]. The Iranian air force would henceforth fight on the defensive, trying to deter the Iraqis rather than engaging them. While throughout 1981–1982 the Iraqi air force would remain weak, within the next few years they would rearm and expand again, and begin to regain the strategic initiative.<ref name="Cooper Blinders">{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Tom|title=Bombed by Blinders Part 1|url=http://www.acig.info/CMS/?option=com_content&task=view&id=247&Itemid=47|access-date=20 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630000305/http://www.acig.info/CMS/?option=com_content&task=view&id=247&Itemid=47|archive-date=30 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>