Operation Dezful | |||||||
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Part of Iran–Iraq War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Iraq | Iran | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
3000-4000 infantry [1] 100 tanks[2] | |||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Light |
KIA 400 136 combat vehicles 84 tanks destroyed[3] |
Operation Dezful was fought in early stage of the Iran–Iraq War on 15 October 1980 as Iranian tank brigades from the 16th Qazvin, 77th Khorasan, and 92nd Khuzestan armoured divisions attacked Iraqi positions. The Iranian Army's aim was to stop Iraqis progress in Iranian territories and to push them back. However, Iraqi forces counterattacked from the flanks, and repulsed the Iranian forces. The Iranian failure was blamed on poor decision making, the purge of army commanders due to their participation in Nojeh coup plot, and underestimating fire power of Iraqi forces and they were forced to retreat to the eastern shores of Dez River west of Dezful.[4][5]