In response to the loss of the strategic al-Faw Peninsula during the Iran–Iraq War, the Iraqis pushed into Iran to seize the strategic Iranian city of Mehran to trade for the strategically important territory. Saddam was able to seize the city in May 1986, for the third time. He then offered to trade it for al-Faw, but instead of negotiating, the Iranians recaptured the city in June 1986.
On February 10, 1986 Iran launched a successful surprise amphibious assault, (what became known as the first Battle of Al-Faw), across the Shatt al-Arab (Arvand rud in Persian) waterway and seized the strategic al-Faw Peninsula. The Iraqi units in charge of the defenses were mostly made up of poorly trained Iraqi Popular Army conscripts that collapsed when they were suddenly attacked by the Iranian Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guard) forces.[citation needed]
The battleEdit
Iranian forces on the outskirts of the city during Operation Karbala 1
Immediately after the Iranian capture of Al-Faw, Saddam declared a new offensive against Iran, Al Defa Al Muthaharraka (Arabic for The Dynamic Defense), designed to drive deep into Iran. The Iranian border city of Mehran, Ilam Province on the foot of the Zagros Mountains was selected as the first target. This city was situated on an important road leading into Iran. On May 15–19 the Iraqi Army's II Corps supported by helicopter gunships captured the city. Saddam then offered the Iranians to exchange Mehran for Al-Faw.[3] The Iranians rejected the Iraqi offer. Iraq then continued the attack attempting to push deeper into Iran. However, Iraq's attack was quickly smashed by Iranian AH-1 Cobra helicopters with TOW missiles destroying an unspecified amount of Iraqi tanks and vehicles.[3]
Iranian troops using mountain warfare built up their forces on the heights surrounding the city. On June 30, they launched Operation Karbala 1, recapturing the area by July 3.[3] Saddam ordered the Republican Guard to retake the city on July 4, but their attack was thoroughly defeated. The Iraqi losses were so heavy the Iranians managed to capture some territory inside of Iraq as well. Iraq's defeats at al-Faw and at Mehran was a severe blow to the prestige of the Iraqi regime. The western powers including the U.S. also became more determined to prevent an Iraqi loss.[3]
AftermathEdit
After the defeat, Saddam and the Baath Party held an "Extraordinary Congress" and decided on a full mobilization of the Iraqi Popular Army.[1] Enlisting men as old as 42, the regime initiated a total call-up of available manpower in 1986. At the time the government feared that calls for the mobilization would lead to draft riots, but the response was good: young men – even college students – reported without incident. The fact that the public answered the call, indicated that Iraqis feared invasion during the war.[1][3]
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Battle of Mehran 1986 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Battle of MehranPart of Iran Iraq WarDateMay June 1986LocationMehran IranResultIranian victory Iran recaptures Mehran Iraqi counterattack failed Saddam Hussein called for the mobilization of the Iraqi Popular Army militia 1 TerritorialchangesIranians once again liberate MehranBelligerents Iraq IranCasualties and losses1 000 killed3 000 wounded1 200 captured 80 tanks and 6 helicopters lost 2 3 000 killed9 000 wounded 2 In response to the loss of the strategic al Faw Peninsula during the Iran Iraq War the Iraqis pushed into Iran to seize the strategic Iranian city of Mehran to trade for the strategically important territory Saddam was able to seize the city in May 1986 for the third time He then offered to trade it for al Faw but instead of negotiating the Iranians recaptured the city in June 1986 Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 3 Aftermath 4 Order of battle 4 1 Iraq 4 2 Iran 5 See also 6 ReferencesBackground EditMain article First Battle of Al Faw On February 10 1986 Iran launched a successful surprise amphibious assault what became known as the first Battle of Al Faw across the Shatt al Arab Arvand rud in Persian waterway and seized the strategic al Faw Peninsula The Iraqi units in charge of the defenses were mostly made up of poorly trained Iraqi Popular Army conscripts that collapsed when they were suddenly attacked by the Iranian Pasdaran Revolutionary Guard forces citation needed The battle Edit Iranian forces on the outskirts of the city during Operation Karbala 1Immediately after the Iranian capture of Al Faw Saddam declared a new offensive against Iran Al Defa Al Muthaharraka Arabic for The Dynamic Defense designed to drive deep into Iran The Iranian border city of Mehran Ilam Province on the foot of the Zagros Mountains was selected as the first target This city was situated on an important road leading into Iran On May 15 19 the Iraqi Army s II Corps supported by helicopter gunships captured the city Saddam then offered the Iranians to exchange Mehran for Al Faw 3 The Iranians rejected the Iraqi offer Iraq then continued the attack attempting to push deeper into Iran However Iraq s attack was quickly smashed by Iranian AH 1 Cobra helicopters with TOW missiles destroying an unspecified amount of Iraqi tanks and vehicles 3 Iranian troops using mountain warfare built up their forces on the heights surrounding the city On June 30 they launched Operation Karbala 1 recapturing the area by July 3 3 Saddam ordered the Republican Guard to retake the city on July 4 but their attack was thoroughly defeated The Iraqi losses were so heavy the Iranians managed to capture some territory inside of Iraq as well Iraq s defeats at al Faw and at Mehran was a severe blow to the prestige of the Iraqi regime The western powers including the U S also became more determined to prevent an Iraqi loss 3 Aftermath EditAfter the defeat Saddam and the Baath Party held an Extraordinary Congress and decided on a full mobilization of the Iraqi Popular Army 1 Enlisting men as old as 42 the regime initiated a total call up of available manpower in 1986 At the time the government feared that calls for the mobilization would lead to draft riots but the response was good young men even college students reported without incident The fact that the public answered the call indicated that Iraqis feared invasion during the war 1 3 Order of battle EditIraq Edit Iraqi Army 2nd Corps 17th Armored Division 70th Armored Brigade 59th Armored Brigade 705th Infantry Brigade 433rd 417th 425th Infantry Brigades 1st Commando Brigade Commando Battalion of the 40th Infantry DivisionReinforcements sent Republican Guard 1st Mechanized 4th and 5th Infantry Brigades 3rd Special Forces Brigade 2nd and 10th Armored BrigadesIraqi Army 35th Infantry Division 71st 72nd 3rd Infantry Brigades 501st 113th 95th 118th and 108th Infantry Brigades 24th Mechanized Brigade 2nd 3rd and 5th Commando Brigades Commando Battalion of the 20th Infantry Division Commando Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Division 65th Special Forces Brigade 763rd 110th 15th 766th 217th 238th 53rd 247th and 489th Artillery BattalionsIran Edit Najaf Headquarters Commanded by Mostafa Izadi27th Muhammad Rasulullah Division 6 infantry battalions 1 tank battalion 17th Ali ibn Abi Talib Division Commanded by Gholamreza Jaafari 3 infantry battalions 1 tank battalion 5th Nasr Division 3 infantry battalions 25th Karbala Division Commanded by Morteza Ghorbani 4 infantry battalions 1 tank battalion 10th Sayyed osh Shohada Division 3 infantry battalions 41st Sarallah Division Commanded by Qassem Soleimani 4 infantry battalions 1 tank battalion 21st Imam Reza Independent Brigade 2 infantry battalions 15th Imam Hassan Independent Brigade 5 infantry battalions 662nd Beit ol Moqaddas Independent Brigade 2 infantry battalions 38th Zolfaghar Independent Armored Battalion 1 tank company 2 artillery battalions from IRGC 4 artillery battalions from Army Islamic Republic of Iran Army AviationSee also EditFirst Battle of al Faw Republican Guard Iraq References Edit a b c People s Army Popular Army People s Militia Globalsecurity org 2007 Archived from the original on 11 April 2008 Retrieved 2008 04 24 a b Razoux Pierre 2015 The Iran Iraq War Harvard University Press 2015 p 366 ISBN 978 0674915718 a b c d e Farrokh Kaveh 20 December 2011 Iran at War 1500 1988 ISBN 9781780962214 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Mehran 1986 amp oldid 1168375133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
