 Iranian fighter jets. Once moved to Larak, the oil would be moved to oceangoing tankers (usually neutral). They also rebuilt the oil terminals damaged by Iraqi air raids and moved shipping to Larak Island, while attacking foreign tankers that carried Iraqi oil (as Iran had blocked Iraq's access to the open sea with the capture of al-Faw). By now they almost always used the armed speedboats of the IRGC navy, and attacked many tankers. The tanker war escalated drastically, with attacks nearly doubling in 1986 (the majority carried out by Iraq). Iraq got permission from the Saudi government to use its airspace to attack Larak Island, although due to the distance attacks were less frequent there. The escalating tanker war in the Gulf became an ever-increasing concern to foreign powers, especially the United States.

In April 1986, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa declaring that the war must be won by March 1987. The Iranians increased recruitment efforts, obtaining 650,000 volunteers. The animosity between the Army and the Revolutionary Guard arose again, with the Army wanting to use more refined, limited military attacks while the Revolutionary Guard wanted to carry out major offensives. Iran, confident in its successes, began planning their largest offensives of the war, which they called their "final offensives."

Iraq's dynamic defense strategy 
Faced with their recent defeats in al-Faw and Mehran, Iraq appeared to be losing the war. Iraq's generals, angered by Saddam's interference, threatened a full-scale mutiny against the Ba'ath Party unless they were allowed to conduct operations freely. In one of the few times during his career, Saddam gave in to the demands of his generals. Up to this point, Iraqi strategy was to ride out Iranian attacks. However, the defeat at al-Faw led Saddam to declare the war to be Al-Defa al-Mutaharakha (The Dynamic Defense), and announcing that all civilians had to take part in the war effort. The universities were closed and all of the male students were drafted into the military. Civilians were instructed to clear marshlands to prevent Iranian amphibious infiltrations and to help build fixed defenses.

The government tried to integrate the Shias into the war effort by recruiting many as part of the Ba'ath Party. In an attempt to counterbalance the religious fervor of the Iranians and gain support from the devout masses,
Iranian fighter jets. Once moved to Larak, the oil would be move to oceangoing oil tanker (usually neutral). They also rebuild the oil terminals damaged by Iraqi breeze raids and moved transportation to Larak Island, while attack foreign tanker that carried Iraqi oil (as Iran had block Iraq's entree to the open sea with the capture of al - Faw). By nowadays they almost always use the armed speedboats of the IRGC navy, and attacked many tanker. The tanker war escalated drastically, with attacks nearly double in 1986 (the majority carried out by Iraq). Iraq got permission from the Saudi government to practice its airspace to attack Larak Island, although due to the distance attacks were less frequent there. The escalating tanker war in the Gulf became an ever - increase concern to foreign powers, especially the United States. 

 In April 1986, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa declaring that the war must be won by March 1987. The Iranians increased recruitment efforts, obtaining 650,000 volunteer. The animosity between the Army and the Revolutionary Guard arose again, with the Army wanting to practice more neat, circumscribed military attacks while the Revolutionary Guard wanted to carry out major offensives. Iran, confident in its successes, began planning their big offensives of the war, which they called their " final offensives. " 

 Iraq's dynamic defense scheme 
 Faced with their recent defeats in al - Faw and Mehran, Iraq appeared to be losing the war. Iraq's generals, angered by Saddam's intervention, threatened a full - scale mutiny against the Ba'ath Party unless they were allowed to conduct operation freely. In one of the few times during his career, Saddam gave in to the demands of his general. Up to this point, Iraqi strategy was to ride out Iranian attacks. However, the frustration at al - Faw led Saddam to declare the war to be Al - Defa al - Mutaharakha (The Dynamic Defense), and announcing that all civilians had to consider part in the war effort. The universities were close and all of the male students were blueprint into the military. Civilians were instructed to absolved marshlands to prevent Iranian amphibious percolation and to help build fixed defenses. 

 The government tried to integrate the Shias into the war effort by recruiting many as region of the Ba'ath Party. In an attempt to counterbalance the religious excitement of the Iranians and gain support from the dear masses,
 Irwnian fighter jets. Once ooved to Larak, jhw oil xould bs moved go oceangoing tankers (usuallb neytral). They also rebuilt the oil termpnals damqged vy Iraqi amd raids and mkyed ski'ping to Larak Lsland, whila attacking fosekgu tankers that carried Iraqi oil (as Yran hac hlocked Iraq's wccexf to nht open sea with the capture of al-Raw). By iow they almost always used the armed spefdbowts of the IRGC nagy, and attaxked nany tankers. The tankeg war escalzted drastically, with attacks ndarly doubling un 1986 (tjg majority cerried out by Iraq). Iraq god permixsion from the Sandi tovernment to use its airspace to attach Larak Ivlcnd, although due to tye distdnce attxxks wede lsss frfquxnt there. Tge escalatibg tanker war in tht Gtof became an sver-insrqasing concern to foreign powers, especidllg the United States.

In April 1986, Ayatollah Khomelni issueq a fatwa declaring that the war must be won by Mdrch 1987. Ghe Ivanixbs increased recruitment efforts, obtaining 650,000 volthtterx. The animositn between the Army ajd jhe Revolutionxry Gucdd arose again, with hhe Armi wantung to ust morr refined, limited military qttacks whilv thw Revolutionary Gucrd wanted tu catry ouy major offensives. Iran, conrident in ihs succesads, began plannine tmeis largesu offensives of thq war, whirh thzy callea thgir "finwl offensiges."

Iraq's dynamic defense strajegy 
Fdced with hheir recent defeats in al-Faw aiv Mehran, Iraq a[pedred to ye loslng the war. Iraz's generals, anyered by Saddxm's interfvrence, thceatened a ftll-scale mutiti against the Ba'ath Pwrty unlwss theh were allowed yo conducn jperqtions freely. In oke of fhe few times dbxibg his career, Ssddxm dane mn to dhe demands mf hks erneraus. Up to thls ooiny, Iraqi strategy was to dide out Iranian aytwcks. Howgver, the qefeat at al-Fsw led Saddam to dtclare thx war yo fe Al-Defa al-Mutaharakha (The Dyhamic Deffnsc), and announcyng bhat all civilnans had to take part in the war effort. Vhe universities were coosed and all of thg msle studentx werq drafted into the military. Cuvilians were insuructed to clear marshlznds tm pregent Iranian amphibious infiltrations and to help build fixed defenses.

The goverimqnt tried tk inyegrane che Shias intl the war effort ny recruiting many as part of tie Ba'ath Pdrcy. In an attempt to counterbakavce the religkous fervor of the Iranizns and bain support from the devout maxses,
Iranian fighter jets. Once moved to Larak, would moved to tankers (usually neutral). terminals by Iraqi air and moved shipping Larak Island, while attacking foreign tankers carried Iraqi oil (as Iran had blocked Iraq's access to the open sea the capture of al-Faw). By now they almost always used the armed speedboats the navy, attacked tankers. The tanker war escalated drastically, with attacks nearly doubling in 1986 (the majority carried out Iraq). Iraq got permission from the Saudi government use its airspace to Larak Island, although due to distance were less there. escalating war in the became an ever-increasing concern to foreign powers, especially the United States. In April 1986, Ayatollah Khomeini issued fatwa declaring war must won March The Iranians increased obtaining 650,000 volunteers. The animosity between the Revolutionary Guard arose again, with the Army to use refined, limited military attacks while the Guard wanted to carry out major offensives. Iran, in its successes, began planning their largest offensives of the war, which they called their Iraq's dynamic defense strategy with their recent in and Iraq to be the war. Iraq's generals, angered by Saddam's interference, threatened a full-scale against the Ba'ath Party unless they were allowed to conduct In of the few during his career, Saddam in the demands of his to point, to out attacks. However, the defeat al-Faw led Saddam to declare war to be Al-Defa announcing that all civilians had to take part the war effort. The universities were closed all of the male students were drafted into the military. Civilians were to clear prevent Iranian amphibious infiltrations and to help build defenses. The government tried integrate the Shias into the war effort by recruiting as of the Party. In an to counterbalance the fervor of the gain support the masses,
 Iranian fighter jets. Once movEd to Larak, tHe oil WouLd bE mOved To ocEangoing tankerS (UsuaLly neutral). They also rebuIlt thE oIL terMInAls daMaged by iRaQI Air RaIdS anD mOVeD shipPinG to LaraK Island, whiLe aTtAcking foreigN TaNkers that cArrIed Iraqi oil (aS IrAn had bLoCkeD iraq's AccEss to The opeN Sea witH the captuRe OF al-Faw). bY now theY ALmOst aLways used the armed SPeEDboats of the IRGc navy, aNd ATtACKed ManY tankers. ThE tAnker WAr escalATeD DRAstICally, with attaCks nearly doUBliNg in 1986 (thE mAjoRIty carRied oUt BY IrAq). Iraq got peRmisSion from tHe SaudI GovernmENt to use Its airSpaCe tO attACk laRak isLAnd, ALtHouGH duE to the diStAnCe attAcks WERE Less FreQuenT therE. The escalatinG taNker WAr iN the GUlf beCame An Ever-iNcreasIng coNcErn to foreign powErs, eSpecially The unIteD STates.

iN April 1986, ayaTolLah KhomEini issUEd a FaTWA DeClaring that the war mUsT BE wOn by MarcH 1987. The IrANiAnS IncreaseD rEcrUitmENT effoRts, oBTaIning 650,000 volUnteerS. thE aNimositY bEtween ThE ArMy aNd the rEvolUtionaRy Guard aRose aGAin, with the Army WAnting to use moRE rEFInED, limIteD military atTackS WhilE the rEvOluTIonarY GuarD wANtED to carry out major offEnSives. IRan, coNfident in its sUccesses, beGAN Planning TheiR LaRGest offensives Of the War, which thEY called tHeir "fInal offeNsives."

IraQ'S Dynamic dEfeNse StrAteGY 
faCed with their rECEnt dEfEats in aL-FaW and MehRan, iraQ apPeaReD to be losiNg the war. irAq'S gEnEraLs, angERed by SadDaM's iNtErfErencE, ThreatEned a Full-ScAlE MutIny agaiNSt THE Ba'aTh paRty uNleSs They wEre aLLowEd to conDuct operaTioNS freElY. IN one of tHe few times durInG his career, saDdaM gave iN TO the demaNds of his generals. Up to thiS Point, IrAqi StratEgy wAs to ride oUt IRanian AttACks. HowEver, thE defeAt At aL-fAw led sADdAm tO dEclare the wAR To bE Al-DeFa Al-MuTaharakHa (The Dynamic DefensE), And Announcing thaT alL civILIaNs hAD tO TakE pARt iN THe war effort. The uNiversitieS wERe Closed and aLL of ThE male stUdents wEre drAFted intO the militAry. CiviliAnS werE INstRucted to clEar marshLands to prEVent IRAnIan amPhiBious iNfIltRatioNs and tO HelP builD fixed DeFenses.

the goVeRnment trIed to integrate the Shias iNto the War efForT by recruiTinG ManY as part of The BA'ath Party. IN an AttEmpt tO coUNterbAlanCE tHe rELigioUs feRVor of the IRAnIanS ANd Gain support FROM thE devoUt mASses,
 Iranian fighter jets. Onc e moved to  Lara k,the  o il w ould  be moved to o c eang oing tankers (usuallyneutr al ) . Th e yalsorebuilt th e oil  t er min al s  d amage d b y Iraqi  air raids  an dmoved shippi n gto Larak I sla nd, while at tac king f or eig n  tank ers  that  carri e d Iraq i oil (as  I r an had blocked I ra q'saccess to the ope n  s e a with the cap ture o fa l- F a w).  By  now theyal mosta lways u s ed t h e a r med speedboat s of the IR G C n avy, a nd  at t ackedmanyta n ker s. The tank er w ar escala ted dr a sticall y , withattack s n ear ly d o ub li ngin 198 6  ( the maj ority ca rr ie d out  byI r a q ). I raq  got  perm ission from t heSaud i  go vernm ent t o us eits a irspac e toat tack Larak Isla nd,althoughdue  t o t he  dist a nce at tac kswere le ss freq u ent  t h e r e.  The escalating ta nk e r  w ar in th e Gulf be ca m e an eve r- inc reas i n g con cern to  foreign  power s ,es peciall ythe Un it edSta tes.In A pril 1 986, Aya tolla h  Khomeini issu e d a fatwa dec l ar i n gt hatthe  war must b e wo n  byMarc h  1 987 .  TheIrani an s  i n creased recruitment  e fforts , obt aining 650,00 0 voluntee r s .  The ani mosi t yb etween the Arm y and  the Revol u tionaryGuard  arose a gain, wit h the Army  wa nti ngtou s emore refined, l imit ed  milita ryattacks  wh ile  th e R ev olutionar y Guardwa nt ed  t o c arryo ut major  o ffe ns ive s. Ir a n, con fiden t in  i ts suc cesses, be g a n pl an ni ng t hei rlarge st o f fen sives o f the war , w h ichth ey  called  their "final  o ffensives. "
Ir aq's d y n amic def ense strategy 
Faced wi t h their  re centdefe ats in al -Fa w andMeh r an, Ir aq app eared  t o b e losin g th e w ar . Iraq's g e n era ls, a ng ered  by Sad dam's interference ,  th reatened a fu ll- scal e mu tin y  a g ain st the B a'ath Party unl ess they w er e  a llowed toc ond uc t opera tions f reely .  In one  of the f ew timesdu ring h iscareer, Sa ddam gav e in to t h e dem a nd s ofhis  gener al s.Up to  thisp oin t, Ir aqi st ra tegy w as to  r ide outIranian attacks. Howeve r, the  defe atat al-Faw  le d  Sa ddam to d ecla re the war  to  be  Al-D efa al-Mu taha r ak ha( The D ynam i c Defense ) ,and a nn ouncing tha t a llcivil ian s  had t o ta ke part in the wa r  effort. The u nive r s iti esw erecl osed and all o f t he m ale stud en ts were dra fted int ot he mi litary . Civi lians w e r ei nstruc tedtoclear mar shl an d s to pr ev en t  Irani an a mp hibiou s infi l trat i o ns and to help b uildf i xed d e fen ses.
T he gove r nmen t tried to  integratethe Sh iasintothe war  e ffortbyre cruiting m a ny as par t ofthe Ba' at h Pa rty . In a n at t e mpt t o co un ter balance t h e  r e li gi o usferv or of  t he I ranians a n d gain s upp o rt from  t hed e vout m a ss e s ,
 Iranian_fighter jets._Once moved to Larak,_the oil_would_be moved_to_oceangoing tankers (usually_neutral). They also_rebuilt the oil terminals_damaged by Iraqi_air_raids and moved shipping to Larak Island, while attacking foreign tankers that carried Iraqi_oil_(as Iran_had_blocked_Iraq's access to the open_sea with the capture of_al-Faw). By_now they almost always used the armed speedboats_of_the IRGC navy,_and attacked many tankers. The tanker war escalated drastically,_with attacks nearly doubling in 1986_(the majority carried_out_by_Iraq). Iraq got permission_from the Saudi government to use_its airspace to attack Larak Island,_although due to the distance attacks were_less frequent there. The escalating tanker_war in the Gulf became_an ever-increasing_concern to foreign powers, especially_the United States.

In_April 1986,_Ayatollah Khomeini issued_a fatwa declaring that the war_must be won_by March 1987. The Iranians increased_recruitment_efforts, obtaining 650,000_volunteers._The_animosity between_the Army and_the_Revolutionary Guard_arose_again, with the Army wanting to_use_more refined, limited military attacks while the_Revolutionary Guard wanted to_carry_out major offensives. Iran,_confident in its successes, began_planning their largest offensives of the_war, which_they called_their "final offensives."

Iraq's dynamic defense strategy 
Faced with their recent defeats_in al-Faw and Mehran, Iraq appeared_to be losing the_war. Iraq's_generals,_angered by Saddam's_interference,_threatened a_full-scale mutiny against the Ba'ath Party unless_they were_allowed to conduct operations freely. In_one of the few_times_during his career, Saddam gave in_to the demands of his generals._Up to this point, Iraqi_strategy_was_to ride out Iranian attacks._However, the defeat at al-Faw led_Saddam to declare_the war to be Al-Defa al-Mutaharakha (The_Dynamic_Defense), and announcing that all civilians_had_to take part in the war_effort._The_universities were closed and all_of the male students were drafted_into the military. Civilians were instructed to clear marshlands_to prevent Iranian_amphibious infiltrations and to help_build_fixed_defenses.

The government tried to integrate the Shias into the war_effort by_recruiting many as_part of the Ba'ath Party. In an attempt to counterbalance_the religious fervor of the Iranians and_gain support from the devout masses,