Word: karun
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...current Iranian offensive began on April 30, when Tehran's forces established a bridgehead west of the Karun River in Khuzistan province. Although the Iranians have successfully regained a large share of their lost territory since the beginning of the year (see map), they encountered strong Iraqi resistance last week. One reason is that the Iraqis this time have relied heavily on their air force, carrying out persistent strikes against the Iranians. Some diplomats believe that the unexpected strength shown by the Iraqi air force results from the presence of an estimated 60 Egyptian pilots now said...
Iraq now has uncontested control of Khorramshahr, up to the banks of the Karun River. But the seemingly endless rows of pockmarked or gutted houses provide vivid proof that the door-to-door fighting was bitter and bloody. Iraqi soldiers recount with incredulity how Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini's zealous guardsmen, after their ammunition was exhausted, persisted in fighting to the death with sticks and knives. Said an Iraqi major who conducted some of the mop-up operations: "They were crazy. Many of them wore a gold key around their necks. They said they were told by Khomeini that...
Pushed across the Karun River by the Iraqi onslaught, some Revolutionary Guards tried to sneak back under cover of darkness to set up sniper posts and slay as many Iraqi soldiers as they could, until they were flushed out. The Iraqis say they have now set up security patrols that will shoot anything that moves on the banks of the Karun. Boasts a brigadier general: "Not even a rat can get across the water...
...roof of an abandoned post office at the edge of the Karun River, Iraqi soldiers point to Iranian outposts a few hundred yards away. In the distance, thick plumes of smoke arise from the burning oil refinery at Abadan. An Iraqi private describes how the remaining Iranian defenders have split into three-and four-man sniper squads. Some of the squads have attempted "hit and run" mortar assaults from the south bank of the Karun. An Iraqi general predicts that Abadan could fall within a week, depending on the intransigence of the Iranian holdouts and the willingness of the Iraqis...
...fighting. After seizing control of Khorramshahr on the disputed Shatt al Arab waterway, Iraqi troops mercilessly pounded the besieged refinery city of Abadan with artillery and tank fire. But fierce resistance by Iranian army troops, Revolutionary Guards and urban guerrillas halted the invaders at a key bridge over the Karun River, north of the embattled city. As the Iraqis shelled other major towns in oil-rich Khuzistan province, Iran struck back at enemy positions with Phantom jet and helicopter attacks. Tehran radio broadcasts claimed that Iranian ground troops had pushed the Iraqis back on the northern fringes...