In the previous programs, we discussed the reasons of continuation of war after the victorious operation of Bayt ul-Moqaddas and the heroic liberation of Khorramshahr. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy after the liberation of Khorramshahr was continuation of defense against aggression for achieving a lasting peace and punishment of the aggressor.

None of the so-called peace plans presented after the liberation of Khorramshahr guaranteed the basic rights of the Islamic Republic. In fact, these plans originated in concern over Iran’s victory in the war and all of them sought to save Saddam from the war that he had launched with the aim of overthrowing the nascent Islamic Republic system.

The president of Guinea-Bissau Ahmad Sekotoreh, one of the mediators in early June 1982, in a message to Imam Khomeini (God's mercy upon him) had spoken of what he called "peace plan". On July 2, 1982, Imam Khomeini in response to his message, expressing regret over the horrible crimes of the blood-thirsty and usurper Israeli regime in attacking Lebanon, wrote: “Know that we have never sought war and never initiated it and our defense against the aggressor is the humane and Islamic rights of every Muslim and it is the aggressive Saddam who should provide the conditions required for the end of war and establishment of peace.”

After the liberation of Khorramshahr, Saddam realized that he needs a new strategy for continuation of the war. Thus, he retreated tactically from some parts of Iran to demonstrate himself as a peace lover.  

While withdrawing from some of the occupied regions, the Iraqi army took a new initiative to create solid defense lines using ground weapons across the warfronts to continue the war with a new array. From then on, the Iraqi army started a new phase in the war while the situation had quite altered compared with the period before the liberation of Khorramshahr. Saddam planned to prevent further attacks as he had experienced a very crushing and humiliating defeat. He intended to keep the least achievement of the war, namely, refusal of returning to the international borders of the two countries and rejection of the 1975 border treaty. Therefore, fresh arrays were made in the Iraqi warfronts so that the Iranians would not be able to release the last occupied border regions.

Ramadan Operation began 38 days after the liberation of Khorramshahr in eastern Basra. Ramadan Operation was considered the beginning of a new phase in the imposed war. For the first time, it was decided that the Iranian troops should enter the Iraqi soil to ensure the security of the borders and rights of the Islamic Republic. The commanders estimated that the enemy's low morale and the confusion of Iraqi commanders after a massive defeat was an appropriate chance to enter the Iraqi soil. Therefore the operation began with the intention of conquering targets around Basra and besieging the city. Immediately after the arrival of Iranian forces in Iraq, the UN issued a statement, to express "concern" over the new situation and called for ceasefire which was strongly rejected by Iran. It is noteworthy that the UN Security Council had kept silent and was quite insouciant during the Iraqi invasion of Iranian territory and bombardment of Iranian cities in the start of the war. But the body issued a statement only two days after the start of the beginning of the Iranian arrival in the Iraqi soil.  

Ramadan Operation was designed and implemented on 4 axes and 5 phases by the IRGC and the Iranian army to capture a 1600 square km triangle by crossing the borderline. The Iraqi army's engineering unit in northwestern Basra and Tanoumeh constructed defense lines by building a 31 km wide canal by pumping water, building barriers and ambushes and firing barrels as a basic obstacle and deterrent against possible attacks of Iranian forces on Basra. Large swaths in the southern part of Shalamche were also filled with water to prevent the movement of armored and infantry forces. Basra, with a population of one million in early 1980s, was considered one of the main Iraqi cities.

Basra has a refinery, a huge petrochemical plant, a natural gas purification unit and other industrial centers. Tanoumeh area which belongs to the industrial city in the east of Arvand is located near Basra. In addition, the desert located in the west of Basra, as well as the swampy land of the north have the largest Iraqi oil reserves. Meanwhile, the Baghdad-Kuwait road, called Safwan, was strategically important, and the basic supplies and weapons of the Iraqi army came to through this road. Prior to liberating Khorramshahr from the occupation of the Ba'athist invaders, Iraq had created few defensive lines to protect the city of Basra. That's why, Saddam called Khorramshahr the key to Basra. So, once Khorramshahr was liberated, the Iraqi dictator became aware of the military capability of Iranian forces and changed his war strategy. It built multi-layered defensive lines to prevent Iran’s infantry from crossing through the Iraqi lines.

Saddam was well aware of the fact that Iran had been focused on Basra due to its strategic importance. For this reason, he concentrated all his efforts on strengthening the defense lines.

The Ramadan Operation could enable Iran to hold the upper hand in political talks and force Iraq to accept Iran's conditions for ending the war. But since the Iranian forces were mostly composed of infantry units and, also due to inadequate machinery to construct embankments, as well as the scorching heat, the movement of forces was reduced. Thus, defense was almost impossible and, with repeated attacks by the enemy, the operation could not achieve the expected goals.

Although the Islamic Republic did not achieve the expected goals in the Ramadan Operation, it showed its resolve to achieve its rights through launching numerous operations and entering the soil of the invading regime. In addition, the Iranian commanders realized that they faced a totally different situation in the war. Accordingly, a new strategy should be developed. During Ramadan Operation, a large part of the Iraqi military units, including the 9^th Armored Division, collapsed. Moreover, 6400 Baathist forces were killed and wounded, and 1315 others were captured by the brave forces of Iran. 1,077 tanks and Iraqi personnel carriers were destroyed. In the next program, we will further talk about the achievements of Ramadan Operation and the change in the Iranian forces' war tactic.

FK/RM/SS