Editing Iran–Iraq War (section)

===1980: Iraqi invasion===
{{Main|Iraqi invasion of Iran}}
{{Further information|22 September 1980 Iraqi airstrike on Iran|Operation Kaman 99|Operation Scorch Sword|Operation Sultan 10}}
[[File:Iran Iraq War Start Attack on Tehran Airport 1980-09-22.jpg|thumb|Explosion in [[Mehrabad International Airport|Mehrabad Air Base]] in [[Tehran]] after Iraqi forces attacked Tehran on 22 September 1980]]
[[File:Destroyed Douglas C-47 of IIAF.jpg|thumb|Destroyed Iranian [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|C-47 Skytrain]]|right]]

Iraq launched a full-scale invasion of Iran on 22 September 1980. The [[Iraqi Air Force]] launched surprise air strikes on ten Iranian airfields with the objective of destroying the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Iranian Air Force]].<ref name=efraimkarsh>{{cite book|title=The Iran–Iraq War: 1980–1988|pages=1–8, 12–16, 19–82|author=Karsh, Efraim|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2002|isbn=978-1-84176-371-2}}</ref> The attack failed to cripple the Iranian Air Force: while it damaged some of Iran's airbase infrastructure, it did not destroy a significant number of aircraft. The Iraqi Air Force was only able to strike in depth with a few [[MiG-23BN]], [[Tu-22]], and [[Su-20]] aircraft,<ref name=cordesman90>{{cite book|isbn=978-0-8133-0955-2|title=The Lessons of Modern War: Volume;– The Iran–Iraq Conflict|first1=Anthony H.|last1=Cordesman|first2=Abraham|last2=Wagner|year=1990|page=444 567 [https://archive.org/details/lessonsofmodernw02cord/page/102 102]|publisher=Westview Press|url=https://archive.org/details/lessonsofmodernw02cord/page/102}}</ref> and Iran had built [[hardened aircraft shelter]]s where most of its combat aircraft were stored.

The next day, Iraq launched a ground invasion, mounting three simultaneous attacks along a {{convert|644|km|mi|abbr=on}} front. Saddam hoped an attack on Iran would cause such a blow to Iran's prestige that it would lead to the new government's downfall, or at least end Iran's calls for his overthrow.<ref name=efraimkarsh />

Of Iraq's six divisions that invaded by ground, four were sent to [[Khuzestan province|Khuzestan]], which was located near the border's southern end, to cut off the Shatt al-Arab{{NoteTag|name=waterway}} from the rest of Iran and to establish a territorial security zone.<ref name=efraimkarsh />{{rp|22}} The other two divisions invaded across the northern and central part of the border to prevent an Iranian counter-attack.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> Two of the four Iraqi divisions, one [[mechanised infantry|mechanised]] and one armoured, operated near the southern end and besieged the strategically important port cities of [[Siege of Abadan|Abadan]] and [[Battle of Khorramshahr (1980)|Khorramshahr]].<ref name=efraimkarsh />{{rp|22}}

The two armoured divisions secured the territory bounded by the cities of [[Khorramshahr]], [[Ahvaz]], [[Susangerd]], and [[Musian]].<ref name=efraimkarsh />{{rp|22}} On the central front, the Iraqis occupied [[Mehran, Ilam|Mehran]], advanced towards the foothills of the [[Zagros Mountains]], and were able to block the traditional Tehran–Baghdad invasion route by securing territory forward of [[Qasr-e Shirin]], Iran.<ref name=efraimkarsh />{{rp|23}} On the northern front, the Iraqis attempted to establish a strong defensive position opposite [[Suleimaniya]] to protect the Iraqi [[Kirkuk–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline|Kirkuk oil complex]].<ref name=efraimkarsh />{{rp|23}} Iraqi hopes of an uprising by the [[Arabs of Khuzestan]] failed to materialise, as most of the Arabs remained loyal to Iran.<ref name=efraimkarsh />

Patrick Brogan described the Iraqi troops advancing into Iran in 1980 as "badly led and lacking in offensive spirit".<ref name=brogan89 />{{rp|261|date=November 2012}} The first known [[Iraqi chemical attacks against Iran|chemical weapons attack by Iraq]] on Iran probably took place during the fighting around Susangerd.<ref name=iranchamber-chemicalwarfare>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/chemical_warfare_iran_iraq_war.php|title=Chemical Warfare in the Iran–Iraq War 1980–1988|work=History of Iran|first1=Julian Perry|last1=Robinson|last2=Goldbat|first2=Jozef|publisher=Iran Chamber Society|date=May 1984|access-date=1 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101040325/http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/chemical_warfare_iran_iraq_war.php|archive-date=1 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Adnan Khayr Allah]] served as Iraqi Minister of Defence throughout the Iran–Iraq War, and was appointed Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, second only to Saddam Hussein.<ref name="Dictionary p135">{{cite book|last1=Ghareeb|first1=Edmund A.|title=Historical Dictionary of Iraq|last2=Dougherty|first2=Beth|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2004|isbn=0-8108-4330-7|location=Lanham, Maryland|page=135}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Georges Malbrunot|date=16 October 2007|title=Majid: 'Saddam is no longer the lion I knew'|newspaper=Le Figaro}}</ref> In this position, he played a crucial role in rebuilding and modernising the Iraqi military.<ref name="Dictionary p135" />

[[File:Irani F-14 Tomcats carrying AIM-54 Phoenixs.jpg|thumb|Iranian [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14A Tomcats]] equipped with [[AIM-54 Phoenix|AIM-54A]], [[AIM-7 Sparrow|AIM-7]] and [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|AIM-9]] missiles]]
Though the Iraqi air invasion surprised the Iranians, their air force retaliated the day after with a large-scale attack against Iraqi air bases and infrastructure in [[Operation Kaman 99]]. Groups of [[F-4 Phantom]] and [[F-5 Tiger]] fighter jets attacked targets throughout Iraq, such as oil facilities, dams, [[petrochemical plant]]s, and oil refineries, and included [[Mosul Air Base|Mosul Airbase]], Baghdad, and the [[Kirkuk]] oil refinery. Iraq was taken by surprise at the strength of the retaliation, which inflicted heavy losses and economic disruption, but Iraqi air defences also inflicted heavy losses.

[[Iranian Army Aviation]]'s [[AH-1 Cobra]] helicopter gunships began attacking the advancing Iraqi divisions, along with [[F-4 Phantoms]] armed with [[AGM-65 Maverick]] missiles;<ref name="Farrokh 03" /> they destroyed numerous armoured vehicles and impeded the Iraqi advance, though not completely halting it.<ref name=cooper03_206>{{cite web|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_206.shtml|last1=Cooper|first1=Thomas|last2=Bishop|first2=Farzad|title=Persian Gulf War: Iraqi Invasion of Iran, September 1980|date=9 September 2003|work=Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf Database|publisher=Air Combat Information Group|access-date=9 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221222156/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_206.shtml|archive-date=21 February 2014|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="Modern Warfare">{{cite video|title=Modern Warfare: Iran–Iraq War|medium=film documentary}}</ref> Meanwhile, Iraqi air attacks on Iran were repelled by Iran's [[F-14A Tomcat]] interceptor fighter jets, using [[AIM-54A Phoenix]] missiles, which downed a dozen of Iraq's Soviet-built fighters in the first two days of battle.<ref name=cooper03_206 />{{Dubious|date=July 2013}}

The Iranian regular military, police forces, volunteer Basij, and Revolutionary Guards all conducted their operations separately; thus, the Iraqi invading forces did not face coordinated resistance.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> However, on 24 September, the Iranian Navy attacked [[Basra]], Iraq, destroying two oil terminals near the Iraqi port of [[Al-Faw]], which reduced Iraq's ability to export oil.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> The Iranian ground forces, primarily consisting of the Revolutionary Guard, retreated to the cities, where they set up defences against the invaders.<ref name=wilson07 />

On 30 September, Iran's air force launched [[Operation Scorch Sword]], striking and badly damaging the nearly-complete [[Osirak Nuclear Reactor]] near Baghdad.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> By 1 October, Baghdad had been subjected to eight air attacks.<ref name=efraimkarsh />{{rp|29}} In response, Iraq launched aerial strikes against Iranian targets.<ref name=efraimkarsh /><ref name=cooper03_206 />

The mountainous border between Iran and Iraq made a deep ground invasion almost impossible,<ref name=eckolm11>{{cite journal|last=Eckholm|first=Leif|title=Invading Iran: Lessons From Iraq|journal=Policy Review|volume=168|date=1 August 2011|url=http://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/87231|quote=Invading forces would need to be prepared for a deeply embedded and enduring insurgency, due to extreme challenges presented by terrain, and resolve...|publisher=Stanford University Hoover Institution|access-date=1 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508163142/http://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/87231|archive-date=8 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and air strikes were used instead. The invasion's first waves were a series of air strikes targeted at Iranian airfields. Iraq also attempted to bomb Tehran, Iran's capital and command centre, into submission.<ref name=efraimkarsh /><ref name=cordesman90 />

====First Battle of Khorramshahr====
{{Main|Battle of Khorramshahr (1980)}}
[[File:Battle of khorramshahr 2.jpg|thumb|Resistance of the outnumbered and outgunned Iranians in [[Battle of Khorramshahr (1980)|Khorramshahr]] slowed the Iraqis for a month.]]
On 22 September, a prolonged battle began in the city of Khorramshahr, eventually leaving around 7,000 dead on each side.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> Reflecting the bloody nature of the struggle, Iranians came to call Khorramshahr "City of Blood".<ref name=efraimkarsh />

The battle began with Iraqi air raids against key points and mechanised divisions advancing on the city in a crescent-like formation. They were slowed by Iranian air attacks and Revolutionary Guard troops with [[recoilless rifle]]s, [[rocket-propelled grenade]]s, and [[Molotov cocktail]]s. The Iranians flooded the marsh areas around the city, forcing the Iraqis to traverse through narrow strips of land. Iraqi tanks launched attacks with no infantry support, and many tanks were lost to Iranian anti-tank teams.<ref name=wilson07 />

By 30 September, the Iraqis had managed to clear the Iranians from the outskirts of the city. The next day, the Iraqis launched infantry and armoured attacks into the city. After heavy [[house-to-house fighting]], the Iraqis were repelled. On 14 October, the Iraqis launched a second offensive. The Iranians initiated a controlled withdrawal from the city, street by street.<ref name=wilson07 /> By 24 October, most of the city was captured, and the Iranians evacuated across the Karun River. Some [[partisan (military)|partisans]] remained, and fighting continued until 10 November.

====Iraqi advance stalls====
{{Main|Siege of Abadan|Operation Morvarid}}[[File:Siege of Abadan, Iran–Iraq War.webm|thumb|thumbtime=337|Fighting during the [[Siege of Abadan]]|left]]

Though Khorramshahr was captured, the battle had delayed the Iraqis enough to allow the large-scale deployment of the Iranian military.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> In November, Saddam ordered his forces to advance towards [[Dezful]] and [[Ahvaz]], and lay siege to both cities. However, the Iraqi offensive had been badly damaged by Iranian militias and air power. Iran's air force had destroyed Iraq's army [[supply depot]]s and fuel supplies, and was strangling Iraq through an aerial siege.<ref name="cooper03_206" />

Iran's supplies had not been exhausted, despite sanctions, and the military often [[cannibalization (parts)|cannibalised]] spare parts from other equipment and began searching for parts on the [[black market]]. On 28 November, Iran launched [[Operation Morvarid]] (Pearl), a combined air and sea attack which destroyed 80% of Iraq's navy and all of its [[radar]] sites in the southern portion of the country. When Iraq [[Siege of Abadan|laid siege to Abadan]], it could not blockade the port or prevent seaborne resupply.<ref name=Abdoleinen-Ghazaleh />

Iraq's [[strategic reserve]]s had been depleted, preventing major offensives until nearly the end of the war. On 7 December, Hussein announced that Iraq was going on the defensive.<ref name=efraimkarsh /> By the end of 1980, Iraq had destroyed about 500 Western-built Iranian tanks and captured 100 others.<ref>Tucker, A.R. (May 1988). "Armored warfare in the Gulf". ''Armed Forces'', p. 226.</ref><ref>"Irano–Irakskii konflikt. Istoricheskii ocherk." Niyazmatov. J.A. – M.: Nauka, 1989.</ref>