Operation Karbala-6
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| Operation Karbala-6 | |||||||
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| Part of Iran-Iraq War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Iraq |
 Iran |
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| Strength | |||||||
| A few thousand | 10,000 Basij The 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division The Pasdaran 31st 'Ashoora' division |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Heavy | Heavy | ||||||
Operation Karbala-6 was an Iranian operation during the Iran-Iraq War to prevent Iraq from rapidly transferring units to its defense lines at Basra after Iran had launched Operation Karbala-5 to capture the city of Basra.
Operation Karbala-6 involved 2 of the most powerful divisions in the Iranian army: the Army's 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division, and the Pasdaran’s 31st 'Ashoora' division. The 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division was armed with helicopter gun ships, tanks, 106mm, 130mm and 230mm artillery and the 31st 'Ashoora' division was armed with captured Iraqi tanks.
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[edit] Prelude
As Operation Karbala-5 was launched to capture the city of al-Basra the Operations Karbala-6 at Qasr Shirin and Karbala-7 in Iraqi Kurdistan where launched to stop the Iraqis from transferring units to their defense lines in Basra. For the Operation around 10,000 Basij Militants , 1 regular army division and 1 Pasdaran division where used for this offensive. The Basijis where lined up early in the morning and sent on offence earlier than was planned because the enemy was expecting something.
[edit] The battle
10,000 Basij volunteers attacked. As they advanced, the Iraqis abandoned their positions. Iraqi troops then counter-attacked with armor and surrounded the Basij, who were only armed with Kalashnikovs. Many Basij volunteers were killed in the fighting with the surrounding Iraqi trooos. The Iranian 77th 'Khorasan" mechanized division and the 31st 'Ashoora' division attacked the Iraqi forces. Iraqi forces suffered heavy losses. The Iranian 77 mechanized division broke through the encirclement.
[edit] See also
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