Editing Iran–Iraq War (section)

====Operation Before the Dawn====
In [[Operation Before the Dawn]], launched 6 February 1983, the Iranians shifted focus from the southern to the central and northern sectors. Employing 200,000 "last reserve" Revolutionary Guardsmen, Iran attacked along a {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} stretch near [[Al Amarah|al-Amarah, Iraq]], about {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Baghdad, in an attempt to reach the highways connecting northern and southern Iraq. The attack was stalled by {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} of hilly escarpments, forests, and river torrents blanketing the way to al-Amarah, but the Iraqis could not force the Iranians back. Iran directed artillery on Basra, Al Amarah, and [[Mandali, Iraq|Mandali]].<ref name="aboulenein12_dawn3" />

The Iranians suffered a large number of casualties clearing minefields and breaching Iraqi [[anti-tank mine]]s, which Iraqi engineers were unable to replace. After this battle, Iran reduced its use of human wave attacks, though they still remained a key tactic as the war went on.<ref name=aboulenein12_dawn3 />

Further Iranian attacks were mounted in the Mandali–Baghdad north-central sector in April 1983, but were repelled by Iraqi mechanised and infantry divisions. Casualties were high, and by the end of 1983, an estimated 120,000 Iranians and 60,000 Iraqis had been killed. Iran held the advantage in the [[war of attrition]]. In 1983, Iran had an estimated population of 43.6 million to Iraq's 14.8 million, and the discrepancy continued to grow throughout the war.<ref name=iranchamber-iraniraqwar />