Editing Iran–Iraq War (section)

====First Battle of al-Faw====
{{Main|First Battle of al-Faw|Operation Dawn 8}}

[[File:Operation dawn 8 map.svg|thumb|[[First Battle of al-Faw|Operation Dawn 8]] during which Iran captured the [[Al-Faw peninsula|Faw Peninsula]]]]

On the night of 10–11 February 1986, the Iranians launched Operation Dawn 8,<ref name=Pollack_217>{{cite book|last=Pollack|first=Kenneth M.|title=The Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness, 1948–1991|year=2002|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|location=Lincoln|isbn=0-8032-3733-2|page=217}}</ref> in which 30,000 men in five Army divisions and from the Revolutionary Guard and Basij advanced in a two-pronged offensive to capture the [[al-Faw peninsula]] in southern Iraq, the only area touching the [[Persian Gulf]].<ref name=efraimkarsh /> The capture of Al Faw and Umm Qasr was a major goal for Iran.<ref name=Viewpoints /> Iran began with an unsuccessful feint attack against Basra.<ref name=efraimkarsh /><ref name=csis8 />

Meanwhile, an amphibious strike force landed at the foot of the peninsula. The resistance, consisting of several thousand poorly trained soldiers of the [[Iraqi Popular Army]], fled or were defeated, and the Iranian forces set up pontoon bridges crossing the Shatt al-Arab{{NoteTag|name=waterway}}, allowing 30,000 soldiers to cross in a short period of time.<ref name=csis8 /> They drove north along the peninsula almost unopposed, capturing it after only 24 hours of fighting.<ref name=efraimkarsh /><ref name=bulloch89 />{{rp|240|date=November 2012}}<ref name=pollack04 /> Afterwards they dug in and set up defences.<ref name=pollack04 />

The sudden capture of al-Faw shocked the Iraqis, since they had thought it impossible for the Iranians to cross the Shatt al-Arab. On 12 February 1986, the Iraqis began a counter-offensive to retake al-Faw, which failed after a week of heavy fighting.<ref name=efraimkarsh /><ref name=pollack04 /> On 24 February 1986, Saddam sent one of his best commanders, General [[Maher Abd al-Rashid]], and the [[Republican Guard (Iraq)|Republican Guard]] to begin a new offensive to recapture al-Faw. A new round of heavy fighting took place. Their attempts again ended in failure, costing them many tanks and aircraft.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> Their 15th mechanised division was almost completely wiped out.<ref name="Farrokh 03" /> The capture of al-Faw and the failure of the Iraqi counter-offensives were blows to the Ba'ath regime's prestige, and led the Gulf countries to fear that Iran might win the war.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> Kuwait in particular felt menaced with Iranian troops only {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}} away, and increased its support of Iraq accordingly.<ref name=bulloch89 />{{rp|241|date=November 2012}}

In March 1986, the Iranians tried to follow up their success by attempting to take [[Umm Qasr]], which would have completely severed Iraq from the Gulf and placed Iranian troops on the border with Kuwait.<ref name=efraimkarsh /><ref name=Viewpoints /> The offensive failed due to Iranian armour shortages. By this time, 17,000 Iraqis and 30,000 Iranians were casualties.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> The First Battle of al-Faw ended in March, but indecisive heavy combat operations lasted on the peninsula into 1988. The battle bogged down into a World War I-style [[stalemate]] in the marshes of the peninsula.<ref name="Woods 2010" />