 overthrow.

Of Iraq's six divisions that were invading by ground, four were sent to Khuzestan, which was located near the border's southern end, to cut off the Shatt al-Arab  from the rest of Iran and to establish a territorial security zone. The other two divisions invaded across the northern and central part of the border to prevent an Iranian counter-attack. Two of the four Iraqi divisions, one mechanised and one armoured, operated near the southern end and began a siege of the strategically important port cities of Abadan and Khorramshahr.

The two armoured divisions secured the territory bounded by the cities of Khorramshahr, Ahvaz, Susangerd, and Musian. On the central front, the Iraqis occupied 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. On the northern front, the Iraqis attempted to establish a strong defensive position opposite Suleimaniya to protect the Iraqi Kirkuk oil complex. Iraqi hopes of an uprising by the ethnic Arabs of Khuzestan failed to materialise, as most of the ethnic Arabs remained loyal to Iran. The Iraqi troops advancing into Iran in 1980 were described by Patrick Brogan as "badly led and lacking in offensive spirit".The first known chemical weapons attack by Iraq on Iran probably took place during the fighting around Susangerd.

Though the Iraqi air invasion surprised the Iranians, the Iranian 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 plants, and oil refineries, and included Mosul Airbase, Baghdad, and the Kirkuk oil refinery. Iraq was taken by surprise at the strength of the retaliation which caused the Iraqis heavy losses and economic disruption, but the Iranians took heavy losses as well as they lost many aircraft and aircrews to Iraqi air defenses.

Iranian Army Aviation's AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships began attacks on the advancing Iraqi divisions, along with F-4 Phantoms armed with Maverick missiles; they destroyed numerous armoured vehicles and impeded the Iraqi advance, though not completely halting it. Meanwhile, Iraqi air
overthrow. 

 Of Iraq's six divisions that were invading by ground, four were mail to Khuzestan, which was locate near the border's southern end, to swerve off the Shatt al - Arab   from the rest of Iran and to establish a territorial security system zone. The other two divisions invaded across the northerly and central part of the molding to prevent an Iranian counter - attack. Two of the four Iraqi division, one mechanised and one armoured, operated near the southern end and began a siege of the strategically significant port cities of Abadan and Khorramshahr. 

 The two armoured division secured the territory bounded by the cities of Khorramshahr, Ahvaz, Susangerd, and Musian. On the cardinal front, the Iraqis concern Mehran, advanced towards the foothills of the Zagros Mountains, and were able to block the traditional Tehran – Baghdad invasion path by securing territory forward of Qasr - e Shirin, Iran. On the northern front, the Iraqis attempted to establish a strong defensive position opposite Suleimaniya to protect the Iraqi Kirkuk oil complex. Iraqi hopes of an uprising by the ethnic Arabs of Khuzestan failed to materialise, as most of the ethnic Arabs stay loyal to Iran. The Iraqi troops advance into Iran in 1980 were trace by Patrick Brogan as " badly led and lacking in nauseating spirit". The first known chemical weapons attack by Iraq on Iran credibly took place during the fighting around Susangerd. 

 Though the Iraqi air invasion surprised the Iranians, the Iranian air force retaliated the day after with a large - scale attack against Iraqi tune bases and infrastructure in Operation Kaman 99. group of F-4 Phantom and F-5 Tiger fighter jets attacked targets throughout Iraq, such as oil facility, dams, petrochemical plants, and oil refineries, and included Mosul Airbase, Baghdad, and the Kirkuk oil refinery. Iraq was taken by surprise at the strength of the retaliation which induce the Iraqis heavy loss and economic disruption, but the Iranians took fleshy losses equally well as they lost many aircraft and aircrews to Iraqi tune defenses. 

 Iranian Army Aviation's AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships began attack on the advancing Iraqi divisions, along with F-4 Phantoms armed with Maverick missiles; they destroyed numerous armoured vehicles and impeded the Iraqi advance, though not completely halt it. Meanwhile, Iraqi air
 ovfrthrow.

Of Iraq's six divirions that were invadiig by gdound, fojr were sent to Khuzestan, whmch qas licated near the border'r southerj end, to cut iff the Sheft al-Arab  frkl thz cest of Iran anc to estabnish a territosixl security zone. The other two divisijns invsdfd across the gortnqrn znd central part of the border to lrevent an Iranian cpunter-attack. Two of the fokr Igaqi divisions, one mechanised and ine armoured, operated near the soujhern end and began a siege of tfe stxategically inpogjant port civies os Abadan and Khorramvhahr.

Thr two armoured ditisiins secured the terrivory bounded by the sities of Kkorramshahr, Ahvaz, Susqnterd, dnd Kusixb. Ov tge csntral frknt, the Irzqis occupiwd Mehran, advanced uowwgcs the foothjlls os ehe Zagros Mountains, and were able to bnoci the traditional Tehrab–Baghdad invasion rouje by secuwing territory forward of Qasr-e Shirin, Iran. On tha norvhdrn fvont, rhf Iraqis attempted to establish a strong defegaife position oppofite Suleimsnlys to protect tfe Iraqi Iirkuk oil complex. Iraqi ropes of an upwisimg by the ethnic Arabs of Kyuzestan faijwd to materialise, cs most of tke ethmic Atabs remained loyal to Nran. Tge Iraqi trlops advahzing into Iran iv 1980 eese described by Patrick Brjgan as "bedly ked and lacling ig offensivf spivht".The first known fhemieal waapons attwck by Iraq on Iran probably took place durinb dhe fightiny aroukd Susangerd.

Thotgh the Iraqi cir invafion rurprised nhe Iraniens, the Iranyan air force tetaliated thx day aftqr wuth q large-rzale attack agsinst Iraqi air basws and infrastructmre iv Operation Kamau 99. Groups of F-4 Phsntum wnf H-5 Tigqs fighter jeds agtazled txrgets ukromghuut Oraq, such as oil fachlitjes, dams, petrochemocwl plantw, and oij refineries, snd included Mosul Airbese, Bajhdad, snd the Kirkuk oil refinery. Iraq sas taken by surprise at the strength of the retaliation which caused the Iraqiw heavy losses and economic disruptiou, nut the Iranmans tjok heavy losses as well as tyey lost many airgraft and aircrews to Jraqi dir dffenses.

Iranian Army Aviation's AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships began attacks in the advancing Idaqi divivijus, alond wivh F-4 Phantoms armec with Maverick missiles; they dxstroyed ngmzrous armoured vehicles and ikpdded the Iraqk advance, though not comlletely nalting it. Meanwhile, Iraqi air
overthrow. Of Iraq's six divisions that were ground, were sent Khuzestan, which was end, cut off the al-Arab from the of Iran and to establish a security zone. The other two divisions invaded across the northern and central part the border to prevent an Iranian counter-attack. Two of the four Iraqi divisions, mechanised one operated the southern end and began a siege of the strategically important port cities of Abadan and The two armoured divisions secured the territory bounded the cities of Khorramshahr, Susangerd, and Musian. On the front, Iraqis occupied advanced the of the Zagros and were able to block the traditional Tehran–Baghdad invasion route by securing territory forward of Qasr-e Shirin, On the the Iraqis to a defensive position opposite protect the Iraqi Kirkuk oil complex. an uprising by the ethnic Arabs of Khuzestan to materialise, most of the ethnic Arabs remained to Iran. The Iraqi troops advancing into Iran 1980 were described by Patrick Brogan as "badly led and lacking in offensive spirit".The first weapons attack by Iraq Iran probably took during fighting Susangerd. the Iraqi invasion surprised the Iranians, the Iranian air force retaliated the day with a large-scale attack against Iraqi air bases and infrastructure Kaman Groups of F-4 and F-5 Tiger fighter attacked throughout Iraq, such as dams, plants, and Mosul Baghdad, and the Kirkuk refinery. Iraq was taken by at the strength of Iraqis heavy losses and economic disruption, but the took heavy losses as well as they many aircraft and aircrews to Iraqi air defenses. Iranian Army Aviation's AH-1 helicopter gunships on the advancing Iraqi divisions, along with F-4 armed with Maverick missiles; destroyed numerous armoured vehicles and impeded the Iraqi advance, not halting it. Iraqi air
 overthrow.

Of Iraq's six divisiOns that werE invaDinG by GrOund, Four Were sent to KhuzEStan, Which was located near the BordeR's SOuthERn End, to Cut off tHE SHATt aL-ARaB  frOm THe Rest oF IrAn and to Establish a TerRiTorial securiTY zOne. The otheR twO divisions inVadEd acroSs The NOrtheRn aNd cenTral paRT of the Border to pReVEnt an IRAnian coUNTeR-attAck. Two of the four IrAQi DIvisions, one mecHaniseD aND oNE ArmOurEd, operated NeAr the SOuthern ENd AND BegAN a siege of the sTrategicallY ImpOrtant PoRt cITies of abadaN aND KhOrramshahr.

THe twO armoured DivisiONs securED the terRitory BouNdeD by tHE cItIes Of kHorRAmShaHR, AhVaz, SusanGeRd, And MuSian. oN THE cenTraL froNt, the iraqis occupieD 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. On tHe nortHErN fROnt, the IrAqIs aTtemPTEd to eStabLIsH a strong DefensIVe PoSition oPpOsite SUlEimAniYa to pROtecT the IrAqi KirkuK oil cOMplex. Iraqi hopeS Of an uprising bY ThE EThNIc ArAbs Of Khuzestan FailED to mAterIAlIse, AS most Of the EtHNiC arabs remained loyal tO IRan. The iraqi Troops advanciNg into Iran IN 1980 WEre descrIbed BY PATrick Brogan as "bAdly lEd and lackiNG in offenSive sPirit".The First knowN CHemical wEapOns AttAck BY irAq on Iran probaBLY tooK pLace durIng The fighTinG arOunD SuSaNgerd.

ThouGh the IraQi AiR iNvAsiOn surPRised the irAniAnS, thE IranIAn 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 pLanTS, and oiL refinEries, AnD inCLUded MOSUl airBaSe, Baghdad, aND The kirkuK oIl reFinery. IRaq was taken by surprISe aT the strength oF thE retALIaTioN WhICh cAuSEd tHE iraqis heavy lossEs and econoMiC DiSruption, buT The irAnians tOok heavY lossES as well As they losT many aircRaFt anD AIrcRews to IraqI air defeNses.

IraniAN Army aViAtion'S AH-1 cobra hElIcoPter gUnshipS BegAn attAcks on ThE advanCing IRaQi divisiOns, along with F-4 Phantoms arMed witH MaveRicK missiles; TheY DesTroyed numErouS armoured vEhiCleS and iMpeDEd the iraqI AdVanCE, thouGh noT CompletelY HaLtiNG It. meanwhile, IrAQI Air
 overthrow.

Of Iraq's six  divisions  that  we rein vadi ng b y ground, four were  sent to Khuzestan, wh ich w as loca t ed  near  the bo r de r ' s s ou th ern  e n d,  to c utoff the  Shatt al- Ara b from the re s tof Iran an d t o establisha t errito ri als ecuri tyzone.  The o t her tw o divisio ns invade d  across t he  nor thern and central pa r t of the borde r to p re v en t anIra nian count er -atta c k. Twoo ft h e  fo u r Iraqi divis ions, one m e cha nisedan d o n e armo ured,  o p era ted near th e so uthern en d andb egan as iege of  the s tra teg ical l yim por ta n t p o rt  ci t ies  of Abad an  a nd Kh orra m s h a hr.
Th e tw o arm oured divisio nssecu r edthe t errit orybo unded  by th e cit ie s of Khorramsha hr,Ahvaz, Su san ge rd,  a nd Mu s ian. O n t hecentral  front, the  I r a q is  occupied Mehran,ad v a nc ed towar ds the fo ot h ills ofth e Z agro s Mount ains ,  a nd wereable t o  b lo ck thetr aditio na l T ehr an–Ba g hdad  invas ion rout e bys ecuring territ o ry forward of Qa s r -e Shir in,  Iran. On t he n o rthe rn f r on t,t he Ir aqisat t em p ted to establish ast rong d efens ive positionopposite S u l e imaniyato p r ot e ct the Iraqi K irkuk  oil compl e x. Iraqi  hope s of anuprisingb y  the eth nic  Ar abs  of K hu zestan failed t o ma te rialise , a s mostofthe  et hni cArabs rem ained lo ya lto  I ran . The Iraqi tr oo psad van cingi nto Ir an in  198 0we r e d escribe d  b y Patr ic kBrog anas  "bad ly l e d a nd lack ing in of fen s ivesp ir it".The  first knownch emical wea po nsattack b y Iraq o n Iran probably took pl a ce duri ngthe f ight ing aroun d S usange rd. 
Thoug h theIraqi  a iri n vasio n su rpr is ed the Ira n i ans , the  I rani an airforce retaliated t h e d ay after with  alarg e - sc ale at t ack  a g ain s t  Iraqi air base s and infr as t ru cture in O p era ti on Kama n 99. G roups of F-4Phantom a nd F-5 Ti ge r fi g h ter  jets atta cked tar gets thro u ghout Ir aq, s uch  as oi lfac iliti es, da m s,petro chemic al  plant s, an doil refi neries, and included Mo sul Ai rbase , B aghdad, a ndt heKirkuk oi l re finery. Ir aqwas  take n b y  surp rise at  th e  stre ngth of the re t al iat i o nwhich cause d t heIraqi s h e avy lo sses  and economic dis r uption, but th e Ir a n ian s t o ok h ea vy losses as w ell  a s they los tmany aircra ft and a ir c rewsto Ira qi air  defens e s .Irania n Ar myAviation' s A H- 1  Cobrahe li c opterguns hi ps beg an att a ckso n  the advancing I raqid i visio n s,along  w ith F-4 Phan toms armed  with Maver ick mi ssil es; t hey des tr oyed n ume ro us armoure d  vehicles  andimpeded  t he I raq i adva nce, t hough  not  c omp letely ha l t in g  i t. Mea nwhi le, I ra qi a ir
 overthrow.

Of_Iraq's six_divisions that were invading_by ground,_four_were sent_to_Khuzestan, which was_located near the_border's southern end, to_cut off the_Shatt_al-Arab  from the rest of Iran and to establish a territorial security zone._The_other two_divisions_invaded_across the northern and central_part of the border to_prevent an_Iranian counter-attack. Two of the four Iraqi divisions,_one_mechanised and one_armoured, operated near the southern end and began a_siege of the strategically important port_cities of Abadan_and_Khorramshahr.

The_two armoured divisions secured_the territory bounded by the cities_of Khorramshahr, Ahvaz, Susangerd, and Musian._On the central front, the Iraqis occupied_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. On the northern front, the_Iraqis attempted to_establish a strong defensive position opposite_Suleimaniya_to protect the_Iraqi_Kirkuk_oil complex._Iraqi hopes of_an_uprising by_the_ethnic Arabs of Khuzestan failed to_materialise,_as most of the ethnic Arabs remained_loyal to Iran. The_Iraqi_troops advancing into Iran_in 1980 were described by_Patrick Brogan as "badly led and_lacking in_offensive spirit".The_first known chemical weapons attack by Iraq on Iran probably took_place during the fighting around Susangerd.

Though_the Iraqi air invasion_surprised the_Iranians,_the Iranian 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 plants, and_oil_refineries,_and included Mosul Airbase, Baghdad,_and the Kirkuk oil refinery. Iraq_was taken by_surprise at the strength of the retaliation_which_caused the Iraqis heavy losses and_economic_disruption, but the Iranians took heavy_losses_as_well as they lost many_aircraft and aircrews to Iraqi air_defenses.

Iranian Army Aviation's AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships began attacks_on the advancing_Iraqi divisions, along with F-4_Phantoms_armed_with Maverick missiles; they destroyed numerous armoured vehicles and impeded_the Iraqi_advance, though not_completely halting it. Meanwhile, Iraqi air