Operation Samen-ol-A'emeh

Summary

Operation Samen-ol-A'emeh (Persian: عملیات ثامن‌الائمه "Operation Eighth of the Imams") was an offensive of the Iran–Iraq War between 27[2]–29[3]: 74 September 1981[4] where Iran broke the Iraqi Siege of Abadan.[5] The operation was carried out by the Iranian army joined by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[6]

Operation-Samen-ol-A'emeh
Part of Iran–Iraq War, Siege of Abadan

Iranian soldiers participating the Operation Samen-ol-A'emeh
Date27–29 September 1981
(2 days)
Location
Result

Iranian victory

  • Iraqi siege of Abadan is broken
Belligerents
 Iraq  Iran
Commanders and leaders
Ba'athist Iraq Saddam Hussein
Ba'athist Iraq Gen. Juwad Shitnah Executed
Iran Ruhollah Khomeini
Units involved

Abuzar Brigade

77th Infantry Division of Khorasan
36th Armoured Brigade of Shiraz
Navy's Takavar Battalion
Separate brigades from IRGC
Local volunteers
IRIAA
IRIAF
Strength
50,000–60,000 troops
numerous armoured vehicles
200 artillery pieces
15,000 troops (inside Abadan)
20,000–30,000 troops outside
Casualties and losses
3,000 killed
1,656 captured
90 tanks/APCs destroyed
100 vehicles destroyed
3 aircraft destroyed
1 helicopter destroyed
100 tanks, 40 APCs, 3 loaders, 150 vehicles captured[1]
3,000 killed
150 tanks destroyed
9 AH-1J destroyed
2 CH-47 destroyed
3 Bell-214 destroyed
Operation map

Diversionary attack edit

On 22 September 1981, Iran began their first successful offensive against Iraq, in order to break the Siege of Abadan. The attack began with a diversionary operation.[6]: 255 A combined arms force of 30,000–40,000 troops attacked the Iraqi forces in a wide front around the Karkheh river in Khuzestan province, Iran, aiming for the road towards Basra, Iraq. The Iranians used their regular army supported by Revolutionary Guard[7] infantry, the former using small groups of armored vehicles with full artillery and air support (the Iranians succeeded in establishing air superiority in spite of limited numbers of aircraft and lack of spare parts). The operation convinced Iraq that Basra was under attack, consequently, they did not reinforce their troops surrounding Abadan.[8]

Main attack edit

Two days later, Iran began to carry out their main offensive against Abadan. During the night, the Iranians infiltrated a force of 20,000–30,000 troops across the Bahmanshir River towards the Iraqi forces on the east bank of the Karun River around Abadan. The Iraqis failed to carry out adequate reconnaissance to discover the infiltration. The main attack was preceded by the Iranian air force carrying out airstrikes against the Iraqi troops between the Bahmanshir and the east bank of the Karun. Due to Iranian air superiority, the Iranians drove the counterattacking Iraqi jets away.[8]

On September 26, around midnight, the Iranian surprised the Iraqi army by attacking them from three sides.[6]: 255 The Iraqis were pinned down in their strongest positions, while their weakest positions were torn through, resulting in the isolation of many Iraqi forces. Iraq failed to maneuver their forces against the Iranians, and they stood in their static positions. An Iranian armored battalion cut the enemy forces in two, while AH-1J SeaCobra helicopters destroyed numerous Iraqi tanks using TOW missiles. Meanwhile, the siege of Abadan was broken, yet many Iraqi forces remained on the east bank of the Karun River, prevented from retreating after the Iranian air force bombed the bridges across the Karun River.[8]

The next phase of the battle came when the Iranians unleashed their 92nd Armored Division on the north side of the Iraqi positions on September 27. The Iraqi command had been driven into a panic and attempted a tactical withdrawal, which turned into a rout. The Iraqis abandoned their heavy weaponry, and fled across the river on a makeshift pontoon bridge and rafts.[9]

Aftermath edit

The victory at Abadan was an important morale booster for Iran, and an important stepping stone for the eventual ejection of the Iraqis out of Iran.[10] As a result of the victorious operation, the critical road of Ahvaz - Abadan road was reopened, allowing logistic support and reinforcement for the With a carefully planned operation and well-executed use of their available materials, the Iranians routed a theoretically superior opponent.[11]

After the operation, a large number of tanks and heavy vehicles were left by the Iraqi army.[3]: 75 

Saddam Hussein ordered the execution of seven commanders after the operation.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Operation Samen-ol-A'emeh". Tebyan. 27 September 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2004.
  2. ^ Tabaar, Mohammad Ayatollahi (2018-05-08). Religious Statecraft: The Politics of Islam in Iran. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-54506-8.
  3. ^ a b Ostovar, Afshon (2016). Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-938789-2.
  4. ^ Iran Yearbook. Moini-Biontino Verlag. 1988. ISBN 978-3-927073-00-5. The next counter - offensive called the Samen al - A'emeh ( The Eighth Imam ) led to lifting the siege of Abadan on 27 September 1981 being followed a little while later , on 29 November 1981 , by the Tariq ul - Qods ( Path of Jerusalem )...
  5. ^ Hanizadeh, Hassan (23 May 2009). "Khorramshahr: From occupation to liberation". Mehrnews. Retrieved 23 May 2009. This military operation broke the one-year siege of Abadan and the eastern part of the Karoun River.
  6. ^ a b c Ward, Steven R. (2014-01-08). Immortal, Updated Edition: A Military History of Iran and Its Armed Forces. Georgetown University Press. ISBN 978-1-62616-032-3.
  7. ^ "سالروز شکست حصر آبادان در عملیات ثامن‌الائمه(ع)". Isna. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Jedi, Sayyed Majid (1995). "The primary revolution of imposed war: the preludes to formation of Same al-Ae'ma operation". Defense Policy (in Persian) (12): 1–25.
  9. ^ Veisi, Morad. "ایران و عراق در جنگ چه مناطقی از خاک یکدیگر را اشغال کردند؟ (Persian)". BBC News فارسی. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  10. ^ "سه عملیات سرنوشت ساز (Persian)". IRNA. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  11. ^ "مروری بر چند عملیات‌ بزرگ و تعیین‌کننده در دفاع مقدس". ISNA. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.