Operation Karbala-6

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Operation Karbala-6
Part of Iran-Iraq War
Date Early 1987 Location Qasr Shirin, Iraq Result Strategicall Iranian victory
Belligerents
Iraq	Iran
Strength
a few thousand	10,000 Basij The 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division The Pasdaran 31st 'Ashoora' division
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Heavy

Operation Karbala-6 was an Iranian operation during the Iran-Iraq War to prevent Iraq from rapidly transferring units to its defense lines at Basra after Iran had launched Operation Karbala-5 to capture the city of Basra. Operation Karbala-6 involved 2 of the most powerful divisions in the Iranian army: the Army's 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division, and the Pasdaran’s 31st 'Ashoora' division. The 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division was armed with helicopter gun ships, tanks, 106mm, 130mm and 230mm artillery and the 31st 'Ashoora' division was armed with captured Iraqi Tanks.

[edit] Prelude

As Operation Karbala-5 was launched to capture the city of al-Basra the Operations Karbala-6 at Qasr Shirin and Karbala-7 in Iraqi Kurdistan where launched to stop the Iraqis from transferring units to their defense lines in Basra. For the Operation around 10,000 Basij Militants , 1 regular army division and 1 Pasdaran division where used for this offensive. The Basijis where lined up early in the morning and sent on offence earlier than was planned because the enemy was expecting something.

[edit] The Battle

10,000 Basij volunteers attacked. As they advanced, the Iraqis fled and abandoned their positions. The Iraqis then counter-attacked with armor and surrounded the Basij, who were only armed with Kalashnikovs. The Iranian 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division and the 31st 'Ashoora' division attacked, inflicting heavy losses on the Iraqis and breaking through the encirclement. By that time many of the Basij volunteers had already been killed.

[edit] See also

• Iran-Iraq War
• Operation Karbala-5
• Operation Karbala-7

[edit] References

1. iraniraqwar.com
2. Information about it on a Iranian-history related wesite