List of extensive Iranian ground operations in the Iran–Iraq War

This list of extensive Iranian ground operations in the Iran-Iraq war introduces 28 of the most important Iranian ground operations during the eight years of the Iran-Iraq war, which are known as extensive operations. In this article, extensive operations are classified into 3 categories, northern front, middle front and southern front, based on the operational front. The set of information introduced for each operation includes: the name of the operation, the date of the start and end of the operation, the area of the operation, the code of the operation, the forces operating in each operation and a summary of the most important achievements in each operation.

The eight-year Iran-Iraq war commenced on September 22, 1980, though signs of Saddam Hussein’s intent to invade Iran had been apparent for several months prior. Initial clashes with Iraq erupted in the west on September 4, 1980, while minor skirmishes along the southern border began on September 13. The following day, September 14, marked the first martyr of the war in the south, a soldier from the Omidiyeh Corps. In response to this aggression, Iran’s courageous forces mobilized to defend their homeland, conducting numerous operations across land, air, and sea with exceptional dedication. Operation Kaman 99, also known as Operation Shadow of Alborz, was a major Iranian air assault launched on the war’s first day and is regarded as the largest Air Force military operation. This mission involved 200 Iranian aircraft, 140 of which penetrated Iraqi airspace to strike military installations, airfields, and hangars, including Kirkuk, Rashid, Ali, and Al-Taqaddum Air Bases, as well as targets in Mosul, Nasiriyah, Shuaibiyah, Kut, Basra, Umm Qasr, Al-Muthanna, and Baghdad International Airport. The remaining 60 planes provided essential support during the operation. Given the strategic and economic significance of the Al-Bakr and Al-Amaya oil platforms for the Ba’athist regime, Iran’s Navy targeted these installations from the outset. In November 1980, through two naval operations—“Ashkan” and “Shahid Safari”—Iran successfully destroyed these key oil terminals, thereby crippling the enemy’s oil export capabilities and inflicting economic hardship.Defense Operations CalendarTimeline of the Eight Years of the Imposed War Retrieved 4 October 2025

Iran’s first cross-border operation during the Holy Defense was Operation Ramadan, launched on July 13, 1982, at 21:30 under the code “Ya Saheb al-Zaman Adrekni.” Conducted in the southwestern region, it aimed to push enemy forces away from Iranian cities and destroy their equipment and personnel. This operation unfolded in five stages, lasting until August 18, and was executed across four axes by the Karbala headquarters. Its objective was to liberate a 1,600-square-kilometer triangular area beyond the international border. This zone was bounded by Shalamcheh and the Ahvaz-Khorramshahr road to the east, Koshk, Talaieh, and border posts south of Hoveyzeh and the southern edge of Hoor al-Hoveyzeh to the north, and the Arvand River extending to Shalamcheh east of Basra to the south. While both popular and military forces engaged in guerrilla activities, Iran’s first ground offensive, known as the Andimeshk operation, occurred on October 15, 1980. It took place west of Naderi Bridge and the Karkheh River, at the Qahveh Khaneh intersection, aiming to halt the Iraqi army’s advance.

Southern front Name of the operationOperation codeStart dateEnd dateBattle zoneOperating forcesOperation resultsOperation Dezful -October 15, 1980October 20, 1980Andimeshk, Karkheh river, west of Naderi bridge, Qahveh Kaneh three-wayArmyThe Iranian Army aimed to halt Iraq’s advance but was repelled by a flank counterattack. Poor decisions, a purge of commanders after the Nojeh coup plot, and underestimating Iraqi firepower led to a retreat to the east bank of the Dez River near Dezful.Operation Nasr -January 5, 1981January 8, 1981Hoveyzeh, Karkheh Koor, Dasht-e AzadeganArmy and Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's LineThree Iranian armored regiments advanced on Iraqi forces near Ahvaz, Susangerd, and Dezful. Alerted, the Iraqis feigned retreat and set a three-sided ambush. After four days of muddy tank battles, the Iranians withdrew, abandoning many damaged tanks. This was the biggest tank battle of the war.Tawakkul Operation -January 10, 1981North of Abadan, Mahshahr three-wayArmyThe effort of Iranian forces to prevent the siege of Abadan and prevent Iraqi forces from passing through Karun failed.Operation Farmandeh Kole Ghowa -June 11, 1981June 15, 1981Abadan, DarkhoveynIRGCIranian victoryOperation Samen-ol-A'emehSeptember 27, 1981 -Army and IRGCRecapturing the eastern bank of the Karun River - removing Abadan from the one-year siege - liberating more than 150 square kilometers of land occupied by the Iraqi army - the most classic operation of the Iranian forces during the war, which was completely based on military principles.Operation Tariq al-QudsNovember 29, 1981December 6, 1981North and South of Karkheh, Dasht-e AzadeganLiberation of Bostan and 70 villages in the region and 5 border checkpoints - occupation of Allaho Akbar region and Chazabeh Defile.Operation Fath ol-MobinMarch 22, 1982March 30, 1982West of KarkhehRecapture of 2,500 square kilometers of Iranian territory from Iraqi forces - Liberation of the strategic road from Dezful to Dehloran - Capture of Abu Gharib oil wells in the Tineh Heights - Capture of 15,000 Iraqi soldiers by Iranian forces.Operation Beit ol-MoqaddasApril 30, 1982May 24, 1982Khorramshahr, Dasht-e AzadeganLiberation of Khorramshahr and Hoveyzeh area and Hamid barracks - destruction of 20% of the Iraqi army - liberation of 5038 square kilometers from the occupied areas - extensive withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Khuzestan province and their positioning around the city of Basra to counter a possible attack by Iranian forcesOperation RamadanJuly 13, 1982July 29, 1982East of BasraIt featured the use of human wave attacks in the largest land battle since World War II. The engagement was a part of the overall stalemate, and was the first encounter of the Iranian forces with the triangular trenches. This resulted in the failure of Basra's siege, which was the objective of the operation.Operation Muslim ibn AqilOctober 1, 1982October 7, 1982Sumar regionThe Iranian operation aimed to capture heights overlooking Mandali, secure the middle-front border, protect liberated Iranian territory, and expel Iraqi forces west of Sumar. The operation was successful.Operation MuharramNovember 1, 1982November 11, 1982Musian - "Miyan Hamrin" border heights - southeast of DehloranSeizing the Musian and Bayat oil resources as well as the Zubaidat oil ponds, which consisted of 700 oil wells - Seizing the road from Tayyeb to Shahrani - Seizing the supply road from Baghdad to Basra - The troops reached the 50 km long border point. The first motorcycle RPG battalion was used in this operation.Operation Before the DawnFebruary 6, 1983February 10, 1983Fakkeh, ChazabehIRGCIranian forces launched an offensive near Amarah, 200 km southeast of Baghdad, led by the IRGC with army support. The operation resulted in heavy Iranian losses due to poor air support and intense Iraqi artillery and airstrikes. The offensive failed to capture the Ghazilah bridge and Amarah city.Operation DawnApril 10, 1983April 17, 1983Jebele Foqi - north of FakkehArmyThe partial achievement of the Iranian forces to the desired heights - the weakness of the command of the ground forces due to excessive reliance on the artillery unit - the failure to join the units to each other after the end of the operation - the retreat of the Iranian forces to their previous positions after a few days.Operation Dawn 2 -July 20, 1983August 4, 1983Haji OmeranArmy and IRGCCooperation of Barzani Kurds with Iranian forces - the leak of the operation by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan to the Iraqi forces - 80% of the objectives of the operation were realized. Also, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran exposed many documents obtained about them.Operation KheibarFebruary 22, 1984March 12, 1984Hawizeh MarshesIn the northern axis of the operation (Al-Aziz), Iranian forces were able to reach the Tigris River and cut off the traffic of vehicles on the Basra-Baghdad route. Capture of two Majnoon Island with an area of 160 square kilometers - Capture of 50 oil wells - Iraq's extensive use of chemical weapons - The start of tanker warOperation BadrMarch 10, 1985March 17, 1985Hawizeh Marshes - north of BasraThe slow progress of Iranian forces in Iraqi positions to the east of the Tigris and the failure to cross it - the inability of Iranian forces to fire properly at Iraqi forces due to the lack of facilities - retreat from half of the captured areas after a week - the start of the city warOperation Ghader -July 15, 1985September 9, 1985Erbil province of IraqLiberation of Sarsepandar, Kalazardeh and Barbarzindoost heightsOperation Dawn 8February 9, 1986April 18, 1986Faw peninsulaThe capture of the city of Faw, Ras al-Bisheh, the Faw road to Basra - cutting off Iraq's access to the Persian Gulf - the most extensive use of chemical weapons during the war by the Iraqi army - the capture of 3,000 Iraqi soldiers by Iranian forces - the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 582 - the construction of the "Basat" bridge Using 5,000 pipes on Arvand River - chemical injury of more than 15,000 Iranian soldiers in 17 days - Robert McFarlane's arrival in Tehran.Operation Karbala-4December 24, 1986December 26, 1986West of Minu Island - Abu Al-KhaseebIRGCThe operation plan was leaked before it began because AWACS planes picked up the information - blocking the digging of the canal in the main passage of the Axis and filling it with Mazut to defeat the Iranian forces - the failure of the Iranian forces in capturing the islands of Umm ar-Rasas and Abu Al-Khaseeb after 48 hours and the order to stop Operations by commanders.Siege of BasraJanuary 9, 1987February 23, 1987East of BasraIRGC and ArmyApproval of Resolution 598 - Advancement of 12 km towards Basra - Capture of 11 Iraqi Army Camps - Liberation of 150 km of Iran's territory - Destruction of 81 independent brigades and battalions of the Iraqi Army - Capture of Bubiyan Lake - Liberation of 4 Iranian border posts.Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas 7June 12, 1988June 15, 1988ShalamchehIRGCThe purpose of this operation was only to weaken the morale and war machine of Iraq in the southern part of the fish breeding channel. Iranian forces returned to their original positions with the first Iraqi attack without any resistance.Operation Labbeik Ya KhomeiniWest of Karun

Middle front Name of the operationOperation codeStart dateEnd dateBattle zoneOperating forcesOperation resultsBattle of MehranJune 30, 1986July 10, 1986Qalavizan heights to Mehran cityIRGC and ArmyRecapture of the city of Mehran and the strategic heights of Qalavizan and Hamrin - liberation of the road from Dehloran to Mehran - liberation of 2 border checkpoints.Operation Karbala-6January 14, 1987Naft Shahr and north of SumarArmyIranian forces achieved victory in liberating Iran's "Naft Shahr" city and Iraq's "Naft Khaneh" city.

Northern front